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).
Yesterday
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
Now I need a place to hide away.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
The song "Yesterday" by Shirley Horn is a cover of The Beatles' classic hit. The lyrics evoke feelings of nostalgia and regret, as the singer reflects on a time when they were happier and without troubles. The first verse expresses the idea that at one point, the singer was able to escape their troubles, but now they seem to have caught up with them. The line "Oh, I believe in yesterday" can be interpreted as the singer longing for a return to a simpler time.
The second verse deals with the aftermath of a relationship ending. The line "Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be" paints a picture of a person who has been deeply affected by the end of this relationship. The shadow that hangs over them is likely a manifestation of their sadness and depression. The line "Why she had to go, I don't know she wouldn't say" suggests that there may have been some conflict or misunderstanding that led to the end of the relationship. The singer believes that they said something wrong, which caused the relationship to end, and the only thing they can do now is long for yesterday when love was an easier game to play.
Overall, the lyrics of "Yesterday" convey a sense of loss and despair, but also an element of hope for a return to happier times. The simple melody and heartfelt vocals bring out the emotional depth of the song, making it a timeless classic that resonates with people to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
In the past, all my worries and problems felt distant and insignificant.
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
However, my troubles have continued and show no signs of leaving.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
I long for the comfort and ease of the past, and find solace in reminiscing about it.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
My current situation has diminished my confidence and sense of self-worth.
There's a shadow hanging over me.
I feel burdened by a sense of sadness or negativity.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
I was caught off guard by the rapidity with which my current difficulties took root.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I am confused and hurt by the loss of a relationship, and cannot understand the reasons for its demise.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
I have regrets over actions or words that may have caused or contributed to the loss of the relationship, and wish I could go back in time to fix them.
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
In the past, love seemed simple and uncomplicated.
Now I need a place to hide away.
But in my current emotional state, I feel the need to retreat or escape from the world.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Despite my current hardships, I still hold on to the belief that the past was somehow better or easier.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
This vocalization suggests a sense of melancholy or sadness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind