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.
When I Fall in Love
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They shall win where others lose
But when man is forced to slay
He is never asked to choose
He must fight for his country
Fight for what he thinks is right
He'll defend his wife and children
Red or yellow, white or brown
All alike, one thought in mind
Who will wear the victor's crown
Never mind the lame and blind
In the pride of their country
Good will triumph in the end
Evil will be brought to justice
On the path of glory Big or little, fat or thin
All are heroes in the end
Unforgivable the sin
To submit, they don't pretend
They will die for their country
They will die for you and me
Amid the pungent smell of death
That's on the path of glory
Why should man be forced to kill
Why should they be made to die
Shattered on some peaceful hill
Torn and bleeding where they lie
Far away from their country
Ask yourself the question now
Why should they be forced to set out
On the path of glory?
The lyrics of Oscar Peterson's "When I Fall In Love" evoke deeper meanings about sacrifice, war, nationalism, and the paradoxical nature of heroism. The opening lines juxtapose the paradoxical qualities of meekness and victory, where those who are gentle will be rewarded in the end. The following lines, however, reveal the irony of such a statement, stating that those who are forced to kill are not given a choice. Thus, the paradox extends to the very notion of what it means to be a hero, a patriot, or a defender.
The second stanza highlights the idea that wars are fought for different ideologies, from defending one's country to fighting for what one believes is right. This juxtaposition highlights the fact that notions of justice, freedom, and life and death, are often interpreted differently by different individuals. The lyrics also highlight how the sense of nationalism and patriotism can blind people to the humanity of others, where all people become one thought.
The final stanza of "When I Fall In Love" asks two rhetorical questions that highlight the senselessness of war. The lyrics evokes the horror of battlefields, where people die senseless deaths far from their own homes. The song thus ultimately depicts war as the path of glory, but not in the traditional sense. It is, instead, a path of pain, sacrifice, and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Blessed are the meek they say
Those who are humble and gentle are considered fortunate
They shall win where others lose
They will be victorious where others have failed
But when man is forced to slay
However, when a man is compelled to kill
He is never asked to choose
He has no choice or say in the matter
He must fight for his country
He is obligated to defend his nation
Fight for what he thinks is right
He must stand for what he believes is just
He'll defend his wife and children
He will protect his loved ones
On the path of glory
Amid the dangers and challenges of battle
Red or yellow, white or brown
Regardless of race or ethnicity
All alike, one thought in mind
Everyone is unified for a common objective
Who will wear the victor's crown
Who will be the ultimate winner
Never mind the lame and blind
Ignoring those who are physically impaired
In the pride of their country
With a strong sense of patriotism
Good will triumph in the end
Justice and right will ultimately prevail
Evil will be brought to justice
Wrongdoing will be punished accordingly
On the path of glory
The dangers of war and conflict
Big or little, fat or thin
Physical appearance or stature is irrelevant
All are heroes in the end
Everyone can be a hero in their own right
Unforgivable the sin
It is a grave offense
To submit, they don't pretend
They won't fake surrender
They will die for their country
They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation
They will die for you and me
They will give up their lives for the greater good
Amid the pungent smell of death
In the midst of the sickening odor of carnage
That's on the path of glory
That's the consequence of war and battle
Why should man be forced to kill
Why should humans be compelled to take another's life?
Why should they be made to die
Why should they be conscripted to die?
Shattered on some peaceful hill
Killed in a place that was supposed to be a safe haven
Torn and bleeding where they lie
Injured and bleeding where they fall
Far away from their country
In distant, foreign lands
Ask yourself the question now
Reflect on this matter
Why should they be forced to set out
Why should they be compelled to depart?
On the path of glory?
Into the hazards of war and conflict?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN GRANT, LIONEL RAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind