Clark was born and raised in Herminie, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town southeast of Pittsburgh. At age 12, he moved to Pittsburgh. When visiting an aunt in California at age 20, Clark decided to stay and began working with saxophonist Wardell Gray. Clark went to San Francisco with Oscar Pettiford and after a couple months, was working with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1953. Clark toured the U.S. and Europe with DeFranco until January 1956, when he joined The Lighthouse All-Stars, led by bassist Howard Rumsey.
Wishing to return to the east coast, Clark served as accompanist for singer Dinah Washington in February 1957 in order to relocate to New York City. In New York, Clark was often requested as a sideman by many musicians, partly because of his rhythmic comping. He frequently recorded for Blue Note Records, playing as a sideman with many hard bop players, including Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Philly Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Art Taylor, and Wilbur Ware. He also recorded sessions with Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Billie Holiday, Stanley Turrentine, and Lee Morgan.
As a band leader, Clark recorded albums Dial "S" for Sonny (1957), Sonny's Crib (1957), Sonny Clark Trio (1957), with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, and Cool Struttin' (1958). Sonny Clark Trio, with George Duvivier and Max Roach was released in 1960.
Clark died of a heart attack in New York City, although commentators attribute the early death to Clark's drug and alcohol abuse.
Close friend and fellow jazz pianist Bill Evans dedicated the composition "NYC's No Lark" (an anagram of "Sonny Clark") to him after his death, included on Evans' Conversations with Myself (1963). John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Ray Drummond, and Bobby Previte recorded an album of Clark's compositions, Voodoo (1985), as The Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet. Zorn also recorded several of Clark's compositions with Bill Frisell and George Lewis on News for Lulu (1988) and More News for Lulu (1992).
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Sonny Clark Lyrics
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You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
[Repeat: x2]
I ought to cross you off my list
But when you come a-knocking at my door
And I come running back for more
I should hate you, but I guess I love you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
The devil and the deep blue sea
The lyrics to Sonny Clark's song Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea describe a feeling of being stuck in a difficult situation when it comes to a romantic relationship. The singer says that they don't want their partner, but they can't bear the thought of losing them either, which puts them in a tough spot between the devil and the deep blue sea. Despite the pain that the partner has caused them in the past, the singer forgives them because they can't forget them, and this is also part of the problem. The singer recognizes that they should move on and forget about the relationship altogether, but they can't seem to do it.
Throughout the verses, the singer goes back and forth between feeling like they should hate their partner and feeling like they still have love for them. When their partner comes back into the picture and knocks on their door, the singer's heart twists with fate, and they end up running back for more. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, saying that the singer is stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Overall, the lyrics capture a feeling of being stuck in a love-hate relationship and not being able to break free. The combination of emotions that the singer experiences is relatable to anyone who has been in a tumultuous romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I don't have any desire for you, but the thought of losing you fills me with despair
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You've put me in a very difficult and dangerous situation
I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
Even though you've done something wrong, I can't stop thinking about you and I am willing to forgive you
I ought to cross you off my list
I should remove you from my life and forget about you
But when you come a-knocking at my door
However, whenever you come back into my life
Fate seems to give my heart a twist
I feel like destiny is pushing me towards you, despite my better judgement
And I come running back for more
And so I can't resist the temptation to be with you
I should hate you, but I guess I love you
I know I should despise you, but I think deep down I still have feelings for you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You've trapped me in this dangerous and impossible situation
The devil and the deep blue sea
A difficult choice between two disastrous alternatives
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind