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).
The Second Time Around
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
The lyrics of Shirley Horn's The Second Time Around convey a message about the power of second chances. The song suggests that love can be even more beautiful and satisfying when given a second chance. The opening line, "Love is lovelier the second time around," builds up the idea that love is not a one-time event but a continual process of renewal. The next few lines reinforce the idea that the second time around can be just as wonderful as the first, but this time with a mature perspective.
The poignant line "Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young" offers a sharp contrast between the idealism of youth and the wisdom that comes with age. It alludes to the notion that perhaps love is something that can be better appreciated and understood as we grow older. The song goes on to suggest that with each subsequent experience, love becomes more comfortable and familiar, like a friendly home. The final lines of the song underscore the happiness that comes from second chances and how these opportunities are truly miracles.
Overall, The Second Time Around is a ballad that offers hope and optimism for anyone who has experienced loss or heartbreak in love. The song suggests that love is a process of learning and growing, and that second chances can often bring even more satisfaction and fulfillment than the first attempt.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is lovelier the second time around
The feeling of love is more beautiful when experienced for the second time.
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
The feeling of love is still wonderful even when one is more grounded and rational about it.
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Hearing a love song for the second time with a different perspective makes one realize how special love truly is.
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Experiencing love for the second time makes one realize that young people may not truly understand or appreciate the depth of love and all its complexities.
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
After experiencing heartbreak, one becomes more resilient and better equipped to handle the ups and downs of love the second time around.
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Being in love for the second time feels more familiar and comforting, like returning to a beloved home.
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
The reasons behind finding love again can be mysterious and unknown, but it is still a wondrous and miraculous thing.
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Some people believe that true love can only happen once in a lifetime, but that may not necessarily be true.
I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
Despite any past heartbreak, the artist is filled with happiness that they found love again.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ARTHUR L. PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind