Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Time on my Hands
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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The moon is my light of love
In the night, I am quite a romancer
I find an answer above
To being me consolation, you're my inspiration
This is my imagination.
Time on my hands, you in my arms
Once and for all, I'll see my dreams come true
Moments to spare for someone you care for
Our love affair for two
With time on my hands and you in my arms
And love in my heart all for you.
In Oscar Peterson's song Time on my Hands, the lyrics describe the depth of love that the singer has for his significant other. The song sets the scene during twilight when the day fades to create a romantic ambiance. With the moon as his only light, the singer feels like a romantic and finds solace and consolation with his significant other. The lyrics convey that the singer finds his inspiration within the arms of his loved one, and he puts his heart out as he vows to see his dreams come true.
As the song progresses, it unfolds the story of a love affair between two people. They have all the time in the world, and the moments they spend together are precious. The singer makes a promise to give his heart to the person he loves forever. The lyrics even mention the phrase "once and for all," signifying that the singer is serious about his love, and he wants to make it work. The song depicts that the singer's love for his significant other is pure and unmatched, and he's ready to give his all for their love story.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day fades away into twilight
As daylight turns into early evening, I feel the romance in the air
The moon is my light of love
My love is illuminated by the moon and the peacefulness of the night
In the night, I am quite a romancer
During the quiet of the night, I become a hopeless romantic, swept up in feelings of love and affection
I find an answer above
Looking up at the sky, I feel a sense of solace in knowing that love is all around us
To being me consolation, you're my inspiration
You bring me comfort and joy, and inspire me to be my best self
This is my imagination.
All of these feelings are real to me, and a product of my vivid imagination
Time on my hands, you in my arms
With nothing else to do, I hold you close, feeling content and at peace
Nothing but love in view, then you fall
All I can see is a bright future filled with love and happiness, and I am grateful for it
Once and for all, I'll see my dreams come true
This opportunity for love is one that I cannot let pass me by, and I am determined to make my dreams come true
Moments to spare for someone you care for
You should always make time for those you love, even if it means setting aside other priorities
Our love affair for two
Our love is a private, intimate affair that belongs to just the two of us
With time on my hands and you in my arms
I have the luxury of spending endless hours holding you close to me, with no other obligations taking up my time
And love in my heart all for you.
My heart is overflowing with love for you, and I am grateful for the time we get to spend together
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind