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).
Let Me Love You
Shirley Horn Lyrics
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Let me say that you do
If you lend me your ear
I'll make it clear the way that I do
Let me whisper it
Let me sigh it
Let me sing it, my dear
Let me love you
Let me show that I do
Let me do a million impossible things
So you'll know that I do
I'll buy you the dawn
If you let me love you today
And tomorrow I'll send you
Merrily on your way
Let me love you
Let me say that I do
If you lend me your ear
I'll make it clear the way that I do
Let me whisper it
Let me sigh it
Let me sing it, my dear
Or I will cry it
Let me love you
Let me show that I do
Let me do a million impossible things
So you'll know that I do
I'll buy you the dawn
If you'll let me love you today
And tomorrow I'll send you
Merrily on your way, on your way, on your way
On your way, on your way, on your way
The lyrics in Shirley Horn's "Let Me Love You" speaks to the desire to express love and devotion to another person. The song's message is clear and straightforward, with the singer asking for the opportunity to love someone and prove their love through actions both big and small. The lyrics begin by asking for permission to love, with the singer promising to communicate their feelings clearly and authentically. The repetition of "let me" throughout the song emphasizes the desire to be given the chance to love and care for someone.
Throughout the song, the singer employs various methods of communication to express their love, including whispering, sighing, and singing. The line "or I will cry it" speaks to the intensity of emotion behind the request to love someone. The singer is willing to go to any lengths to convey their feelings and prove their love, including doing "a million impossible things." Towards the end of the song, the singer offers to "buy you the dawn," which represents the idea of offering someone the world and all its beauty as a symbol of love and devotion.
Overall, "Let Me Love You" is a simple and heartfelt expression of love that captures the desire to be given the opportunity to love and care for someone completely.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me love you
I want to love you and show you how much you mean to me
Let me say that you do
Let me express my love for you verbally
If you lend me your ear
If you listen to me, I will make my feelings clear
I'll make it clear the way that I do
I will communicate my love in a way that is meaningful to you
Let me whisper it
I want to whisper my love and affection to you
Let me sigh it
I will express my love through soft sighs
Let me sing it, my dear
I want to express my love for you through the beauty of music
Or I will cry it
I will cry if I cannot express my love for you
Let me show that I do
I want to demonstrate my love and affection for you through my actions
Let me do a million impossible things
I am willing to go to great lengths to prove my love for you
So you'll know that I do
I want you to be sure of my love for you
I'll buy you the dawn
I will give you the beauty of a new day
If you let me love you today
If you give me your love today, I will do anything for you
And tomorrow I'll send you
In the future, I will continue to show my love and affection for you
Merrily on your way
I want you to be happy and joyful as you go about your life
On your way, on your way, on your way
I want you to go on your journey with love and support from me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BART HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind