He emerged in the 1970s and at the time he was considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins as well as Zoot Sims and Don Byas forward. He began playing in various rhythm & blues outfits in Providence (Rhode Island), but subsequently shifted to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976 he moved to New York City at, in part the recommendation of Roy Eldridge. He there joined Benny Goodman for a period of time. During this time, he also developed an alcohol problem.,[1] In the early 1980's he had formed his own quintet and toured all over the world. By then free from his drinking habit, in 1982 he had matured sufficiently to be able to break away from the spell of mainly Ben Webster and Zoot Sims, of whom he had been criticized of imitating. From this point on both his playing and his tone was very much his own.
Living in New York City, he toured all around the world during the 1980's, playing Japan and all over Europe. He was in particular a recurrent visitor to the UK, Sweden and the Grand Parade du Jazz, held in Nice, France. By the early 1990's he was ready for a next step and by 1994 when he released Organic Duke, he had developed a quite singular style: a large, well rounded but still focused tone and improvising, ostensibly still based on the swing idiom (especially Ellington), but incorporating more modern elements. During this period, he relocated to London, and formed his current quartet, featuring John Pearce (p), Dave Green (b) and Steve Brown (dr). He is currently active touring all over Europe.
He has had over forty albums as a lead most on the Concord Records label.
Skylark
Scott Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
The song Skylark by Scott Hamilton is a wistful and romantic ballad that speaks to the desires of a lovelorn and pensive soul. The singer addresses the skylark, a bird that is often admired for its melodious and uplifting song, as a guide to help them navigate their search for love. The singer asks the bird if it has any knowledge of where their love may be, and implores it to take them to a meadow where they can find their beloved. The bird is asked to show the way to a valley that's green with spring, where the singer's heart can go on a journey over the shadows and the rain to a blossom-covered lane.
The singer then asks if the skylark has ever heard the music in the night, a wonderful music that is faint as a will o' the wisp and crazy as a loon, and as sad as a gypsy serenading the moon. These are all metaphors for the enchanting, elusive, and emotional qualities of love. Finally, the singer reiterates their plea, asking the bird again to help them find their love, as their heart is riding on its wings.
Overall, the song is a poetic and heartfelt tribute to the power of love, and the desire to find and be with one's beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
Addressing the bird as a symbol of hope and asking for guidance
Have you anything to say to me?
Asking the bird if there is a message or direction it can provide
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Asking the bird if it knows where the singer's true love can be found
Is there a meadow in the mist
Wondering if there is a hidden place of peace and beauty
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Asking if there is a place where love can be found
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Asking the bird if it has witnessed the beauty of nature in full bloom
Where my heart can go a journeying
Desiring a place where the heart can feel fulfilled
Over the shadows and the rain
Overcoming the obstacles of life and hardships
To a blossom covered lane
Leading to a path with beauty and joy
And in your lonely flight
Reflecting on the bird's solitary existence
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Suggesting that even in sadness and darkness, there is still beauty and hope
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Describing the elusive and ethereal nature of beauty and happiness
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Expressing the complexity and diversity of human emotions
Oh skylark
Repeating the bird's name as a reminder of its significance
I don't know if you can find these things
Admitting uncertainty and vulnerability
But my heart is riding on your wings
Placing hope and trust in the bird's guidance
So if you see them anywhere
Asking the bird to keep watch and provide direction
Won't you lead me there?
Pleading with the bird to show the way to true love and happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind