After moving to New York in the early 1950s, she married Parker’s pianist, Duke Jordan, and studied with Lennie Tristano, but it was not until the early 1960s that she made her first recordings. One was under her name; the other was “The Outer View” with George Russell, which featured a famous 10-minute version of “You Are My Sunshine.”
In the mid-1960s, her work encompassed jazz liturgies sung in churches and extensive club work, but her appeal was narrow even within the confines of jazz. However, by the late 1970s, jazz audiences had begun to understand her uncompromising style a little more. As a result, her popularity increased - as did her appearances on record, which included albums with pianist Steve Kuhn, whose quartet she joined, and an album, Home, comprising a selection of Robert Creeley’s poems set to music and arranged by Steve Swallow.
A 1983 duo set with bassist Harvie Swartz, “Old Time Feeling” comprises several standards Jordan regularly features in her live repertoire, while the 1990s “Lost And Found” pays tribute to her bebop roots. Both sets display her unique musical trademarks, such as the frequent and unexpected sweeping changes of pitch, which still tend to confound an uninitiated audience. Her preference for the bass and voice set led to another remarkable collaboration with bassist Cameron Brown, who has been performing worldwide for more than ten years and has released the live albums “I’ve Grown Accustomed to the Bass” and “Celebration.” Entirely non-derivative, Jordan is one of only a tiny handful of jazz singers who fully deserve the appellation and for whom no other term will do.
If You Could See Me Now
Sheila Jordan Lyrics
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One look is all you'd need to see the mood I'm in.
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
Without my heart behind the smile?
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
The song "If You Could See Me Now" by Sheila Jordan is a love song about the pain of a lost love. The lyrics begin with the vocalist expressing her sorrow at the realization that her lover is no longer with her. The longing and sadness she feels can be seen in her appearance, and she wishes her lover knew how deeply she feels their absence. The lyrics go on to express the emotional struggle the vocalist faces in hiding her heartbreak and trying to move on without her lover. However, the inner turmoil she feels is evident in her eyes, and she believes that if her lover could see her now, he would know that she still loves him.
The song's lyrics are vividly descriptive of the vocalist's inner turmoil as she struggles with heartbreak and the hope of reuniting with her lost love. The lyrics convey her sadness, longing, and attempts at hiding her true feelings. Also, it suggests that her love for her lost lover is so strong that it is impossible for her to forget about him.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could see me now, you'd know how blue I've been
Just one glimpse of me is enough to show the sadness I'm feeling.
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
Seeing my sorrow might help you understand that my love for you is still strong.
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
Despite my heartache, I'm putting on a brave face.
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
I'm doing my best to hold back my tears and avoid making a scene.
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
My efforts to be strong and conceal my feelings are futile, as my love for you persists.
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
I hope that one day you'll cross my path again.
And the month will be May for a while.
When we reunite, it will feel like the joyful season of May, bringing new life and hope.
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
Despite my longing to be with you, I'm not sure I can pretend to be happy just for appearances.
Without my heart behind the smile?
Can I really smile from my heart when you're not there with me?
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
My love for you is so strong that I could never pretend or hide it.
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
My eyes reveal the depth of my love for you, and it's impossible to conceal.
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
If you could see how much I still love you, maybe we could rekindle our relationship.
Lyrics © SEVENTH HOUSE LTD.
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, TADD DAMERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind