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).
Love for Sale
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belongs to a lonesome cop
I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk,
I go to work.
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly spoiled
Love for sale
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale.
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the trill of love,
I've been through the mill of love,
Old love, new love,
Every love but true love.
Love for sale.
The lyrics of Shirley Horn's Love For Sale describe a transaction in which the singer is offering love for sale. The verses depict the setting for this transaction, which is an empty and lonely street at night where a lonesome cop is patrolling. When the moon has been gazing down on this wayward town for so long that her smile becomes a smirk, the singer decides to open shop. Love for sale is described as appetizing, fresh and still unspoiled, but also slightly spoiled. The singer seems to be challenging potential buyers to give her supply of love a try, and asks who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise. The lyrics conclude with a dismissive statement about the poets who pipe of love, and the singer's claim to know every type of love better than they do. The final line in the song is a sobering reminder that love is for sale, but true love is not on offer.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound in the empty street
When there is no other noise heard in the deserted street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
Except the loud noise of footsteps from the police officer
That belongs to a lonesome cop
Who is the only lonely officer on duty
I open shop
I start selling love
When the moon so long has been gazing down
When the moon has been discreetly observing for a while
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
On the mischievous activities happening in the town
That her smile becomes a smirk,
The moon's expression turns to a smug grin
I go to work.
I start with my business
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
I'm selling love, fresh and attractive
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
I offer love that's new and uncorrupted
Love that's only slightly spoiled
Or love that's only a bit corrupted
Love for sale
I sell love
Who will buy?
Who wants to purchase?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who wishes to test it first?
Who's prepared to pay the price
Who is ready to pay the cost
For a trip to paradise?
For a chance at bliss?
Let the poets pipe of love
Let the writers express their emotions about love
In their childish way
Although they have a naive perception
I know every type of love
I have experienced varieties of love
Better far than they.
Of much vaster experience compared to theirs.
If you want the trill of love,
If you seek an adrenalized love experience,
I've been through the mill of love,
I have had extensive romantic woes,
Old love, new love,
Whether it’s past or presently loving someone,
Every love but true love.
With each of them beside a true love.
Love for sale.
I'm selling love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidwingate
Jackie Wilson recorded the song on his Live at The Copa album...
Shirley Horn has one of the most sublime voices ever recorded
@DianeWilliamsCurvyGoddess
The best version of this song. Love it!!
@elkealbrich5380
When the only sound in the empty street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belongs to a lonesome cop
I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk
I go to work
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true love, love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
In the childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true love, love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Oh, love for sale
Love for sale
@sing4peace
Thank you for the clip and for the excellent history on both song and singer.
@kitxnx
yeahhh I'm in love with this song
@sindymace5228
So good
@elkealbrich5380
<3
@holasoyrenee
Nice, like the description below! super useful info.