Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.
Read Full Bio ↴Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.

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.

Young And Foolish
Oscar Peterson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Young and foolish
Why is it wrong to be
Young and foolish
We haven't long to be

Soon enough the carefree days
The sunlit days go by
Soon enough the bluebird has to fly

We were foolish
One day we fell in love
Now we wonder
What were we dreaming of

Smiling in the sunlight
Laughing in the rain
I wish that we were
Young and foolish again

Smiling in the sunlight
Laughing in the rain

I wish that we were
Young and foolish again

Overall Meaning

In Oscar Peterson's song "Young and Foolish," the songstress reflects on her youth, naivety, and spontaneity. The lyrics are nostalgic and evoke a sense of longing to return to a simpler time. The first few lines of the song question why being young and foolish is deemed wrong, which many people can relate to, as they too remember feeling judged for their youth and inexperience. The line "We haven't long to be" is a reminder of mortality, emphasizing the fleeting nature of youth and the importance of enjoying every moment of it.

The following verse reflects on the idea that life moves quickly and that one will soon leave behind the carefree, sunlit days of youth. The line "Soon enough the bluebird has to fly" can be interpreted as a metaphor for youth, representing a period of time where one is free to explore the world and make mistakes. The chorus then repeats, highlighting that the singer falls in love, and the relationship does not work out. There is a sense of regret for the lost love, but also a deeper sadness for the loss of youth.

Finally, the song ends with a bittersweet reminder that the sun still shines and the rain still falls, but the singer wishes to be young and foolish again. The song's implied message is about the relativity of time and the importance of living in the moment. The song is a soft ballad with a simple melody that matches the wistful tone of the lyrics. The song is a testament to Oscar Peterson's talent in producing melancholy but beautiful jazz compositions.

Line by Line Meaning

Young and foolish
Being youthful and naive

Why is it wrong to be
Criticism towards society's view that youthfulness and naivety is wrong

We haven't long to be
Awareness that youthfulness and naivety is temporary

Soon enough the carefree days
Acknowledging that soon there will be responsibilities which will have to be taken on

The sunlit days go by
Youthfulness is temporary and time will pass by quickly

Soon enough the bluebird has to fly
Metaphor for signs of maturity and leaving behind youthfulness

We were foolish
Acknowledging past mistakes due to youthfulness and naivety

One day we fell in love
Love was something that was unexpected and not well thought-out

Now we wonder
Reflecting on past choices

What were we dreaming of
Questioning motivations and intentions of past actions

Smiling in the sunlight
Desire to go back to carefree, happy days