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.
Yesterdays
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days I knew as happy sweet
Sequestered days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free in flame and life
Sad am I, glad am I
For today I'm dreamin' of yesterdays
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Days I knew as happy sweet
Sequestered days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
For then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free in flame and life
Then sooth was mine
Sad am I, glad am I
For today I'm dreamin' of yesterdays
Yesterday
, written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach, speaks to the bittersweet memories of the singer. The repeated refrain of "yesterdays, yesterdays" hammers home the point that these memories are never far from their mind. The singer remembers these days as "happy sweet," "sequestered," "olden," and "golden." The language used to describe these days is highly nostalgic and romanticized, presenting an idealized vision of the past. The memories of these days are ones of "mad romance and love," and the singer remembers feeling "joyous free in flame and life."
However, the singer is also aware that these memories are out of reach. They state, "sad am I, glad am I / for today I'm dreamin' of yesterdays." While the memories bring them happiness and comfort, they also create a sense of longing and melancholy. In the end, the singer is left dreaming about the past even though they know they can never go back.
In summary, Yesterdays is a deeply emotional song about the pain and beauty of remembering the past. It reflects on the joys and sorrows of days gone by and the power that memories can have over us.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Reflecting on the past and the memories of past days.
Days I knew as happy sweet
Recalling past days filled with happiness and joy.
Sequestered days
Days that were set apart or isolated, possibly filled with personal reflection and growth.
Olden days, golden days
Looking back to past times that are perceived as being precious and valuable.
Days of mad romance and love
Days filled with intense and passionate experiences of love.
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Remembering a time of carefree youth and feeling confident in oneself and one's beliefs.
Joyous free in flame and life
A time of living life to the fullest and feeling alive with energy and passion.
Then sooth was mine
Finding comfort and ease in life during the past.
Sad am I, glad am I
Feeling a mix of emotions when reflecting on the past.
For today I'm dreamin' of yesterdays
Longing to go back to the past and relive those happy moments once again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEROME KERN, OTTO HARBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nathan Perrin
The gentle giant hits again in the most wonderful way..pure delight