Shirley Horn was born and raised in Washington, D.C.. Encouraged by her grandmother, an amateur organist, Horn began piano lessons at the age of four. Aged 12, she studied piano and composition at Howard University, later graduating from there in classical music. Horn was offered a place at the Juilliard School, but her family could not afford to send her there. Horn formed her first jazz piano trio when she was 20. Horn's early piano influences were Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal, and moving away from her classical background, Horn later said that "Oscar Peterson became my Rachmaninov, and Ahmad Jamal became my Debussy." She then became enamored with the famous U Street jazz area of Washington (largely destroyed in the 1968 riots), sneaking into jazz clubs before she was of legal age.
Horn first achieved fame in 1960, through her association with Miles Davis. Davis' praise had particular resonance in two respects: because he was so highly respected as a musician, and because he rarely offered public praise for fellow musicians at that time. Horn had, though, recorded several songs with violinist Stuff Smith in 1959 both as a pianist and a singer. After her discovery by Davis, she recorded albums on different small labels in the early 1960s, eventually landing contracts with larger labels Mercury Records and Impulse Records. She was popular with jazz critics, but did not achieve significant popular success.
Quincy Jones attempted to make Horn into a pure vocalist in several recording sessions, something he later hinted may have been a mistake. Horn was also disturbed by the changes in popular music in the 1960s following the arrival of The Beatles. Largely rejecting efforts to remake her into a popular singer, she stated: "I will not stoop to conquer."[4] From the late-1960s, she concentrated on raising her daughter Rainy with her husband, Shepherd Deering (whom she had married in 1955), and largely limited her performances to her native Washington, D.C.
Miles Davis made a rare appearance as a sideman on Horn's 1991 album You Won't Forget Me. Although she preferred to perform in small settings, such as her trio, she also recorded with orchestras, as on the 1992 album Here's to Life, the title song (lyrics by Phyllis Molinary, music by Artie Butler) of which became her signature song. A video documentary of Horn's life and music was released at the same time as "Here's To Life" and shared its title. At the time, arranger Johnny Mandel commented that Horn's piano skill was comparable to that of the noted jazz great Bill Evans. A follow-up was made in 2001, named You're My Thrill.
Horn worked with the same rhythm section for 25 years: Charles Ables (bass) and Steve Williams (drums). Don Heckman wrote in the Los Angeles Times (February 2, 1995) about "the importance of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams to Horn's sound. Working with boundless subtlety, following her every spontaneous twist and turn, they were the ideal accompanists for a performer who clearly will tolerate nothing less than perfection".
Her albums Here's to Life, Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) and I Love You, Paris all reached number one on the Billboard jazz charts.
Due to health problems in the early 2000s, Horn had to cut back on her performances. After 2002, a foot amputation (from complications of diabetes) led her to leave the piano playing to pianist George Mesterhazy. In late 2004, Horn felt able to play piano again, and recorded a live album for Verve, at Manhattan's Au Bar with trumpet player Roy Hargrove, which did not satisfy her.[citation needed] It remains unreleased except for tracks on But Beautiful - The Best of Shirley Horn.
A breast cancer survivor, she had been battling diabetes when she died of complications from the condition, aged 71. She is interred at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Horn was nominated for nine Grammy Awards during her career, winning the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards for I Remember Miles, a tribute to her friend and mentor (the album's cover featuring a Miles Davis drawing of them both).
She was officially recognized by the 109th US Congress for "her many achievements and contributions to the world of jazz and American culture", and performed at The White House for several U.S. presidents. Horn was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music in 2002.
She was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in 2005 (the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians).
Come Fly With Me
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
In llama land there's a one-man band
And he'll toot his flute for you
Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Pack up, let's fly away!
"Come Fly With Me" by Shirley Horn is a song that invites someone to escape reality for a while and fly away with the singer, to experience exotic destinations and adventures together. The song is an invitation to enjoy life without restrictions, to let go of mundane worries, and to indulge in the pleasure of being with someone special. The singer suggests a sense of carefree whimsy in the verse "If you can use some exotic booze, there's a bar in far Bombay," which sets the tone for this whimsical and adventurous journey.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the joy and euphoria of flying, and the idea that the destination is of little importance in comparison to the trip itself. The lyrics indicate a feeling of contentment and pure happiness simply being together, even if it's just floating down to Peru with a one-man band or taking off in the blue. The lyrics also touch on the romantic aspect of the journey, with the singer crooning "Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near, you may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together."
The phrase "Come Fly With Me" is an invitation to live in the moment and enjoy life to the fullest. It encourages listeners to break out of their routines and take risks, to embrace the unknown and the unexpected. The song's lyrics are upbeat and optimistic, with a lively melody that invites listeners to dance along and join in a joyful celebration of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me in taking a flight and embark on a journey together
If you can use some exotic booze
If you're interested in trying some unique and unusual drinks
There's a bar in far Bombay
There's a bar located in distant Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me in taking a flight and embark on a journey together
Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
Let's travel by air to Peru and explore the beauty of this place
In llama land there's a one-man band
In a place where llamas roam freely, there's a person playing music on his own
And he'll toot his flute for you
He'll play the flute instrument for you to listen and enjoy
Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue
Let's take off on a flight and fly above the blue sky
Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
Once I take you up in the sky where the air is thin and pure
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
We'll smoothly move through the air in awe and wonder
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
Once we reach high in the sky, I'll hold you closely
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Our union may be celebrated and praised by angels
Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
The current climate is great for flying
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
All you have to do is verbally express yourself and we'll fly faster than the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
We'll descend upon Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
It's the ideal destination for a romantic vacation in the air, as per popular opinion.
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me in taking a flight and embark on a journey together
Pack up, let's fly away!
Let's get ready and fly away as soon as possible
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind