Kent attended Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey. She graduated with a Degree in Comparative Literature from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and moved to England after her graduation. While studying at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she met tenor saxophonist, Jim Tomlinson, whom she married on 9 Aug 1991.
Discography:
"Close Your Eyes" (1997), "The Tender Trap" (1998), "Let Yourself Go: Celebrating Fred Astaire" (2000),
"Dreamsville" (2001), "Brazilian Sketches" (2001), "In Love Again: The Music of Richard Rodgers" (2002),
"The Boy Next Door" (2003), "Collection" (2001), "Collection II" (2003), "Collection III" (2006),
"Breakfast On The Morning Tram" (2007), "Breakfast on the Morning Tram" (2008, limited edition boxset CD/DVD),
"Raconte-Moi..." (2010) , "Hushabye Mountain" (2011) , "THE CHANGING LIGHTS" (2013)
Kent has also featured in Tomlinson's 2006 album, The Lyric, which won "Album of the Year" at the 2006 BBC Jazz Awards.
Awards: British Jazz Award (2001) and BBC Jazz Award for Best Vocalist (2002).
Kent's album, Breakfast on the Morning Tram, was a nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 51st Grammy Awards (2009).
Trivia: Novelist Kazuo Ishiguro wrote the liner notes to Kent's 2003 album, The Boy Next Door, and also co-wrote four of the songs on the 2007 album, Breakfast on the Morning Tram.
Sites: Discogs
One For My Baby
Stacey Kent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know
We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
The opening verse of the song "One for My Baby" by Stacey Kent sets a melancholic mood, as it describes a deserted bar at 3 o'clock in the morning. The only two people in the bar are the singer, the singer of the song, and the bartender, Joe. The singer starts off by striking a conversation with Joe and asking him to set up a drink. The singer has a little story to tell, which he thinks Joe should know. As the conversation progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is nursing a broken heart. He has just had a brief episode of heartbreak, and he needs a drink to numb the pain. The singer then proceeds to give Joe a rundown of the common routine between them, expressing his desire to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
The singer then reminisces on his past and all the things he wished he would have been able to say to his love interest. He confesses that he is a poet and that he has written a lot of things that he wishes he could have said. The mood of the song then turns melancholic, and the singer asks Joe to play some easy and sad music as he reminisces over his past love. Finally, he asks Joe for one last drink. The drink is symbolic of the singer's desire to put an end to his heartache and leave it behind. The singer then sees himself off as Joe closes up the bar, leaving behind his memories and heartbreak.
Overall, the song is a poignant tribute to the power of alcohol to alleviate sorrow and help one overcome heartbreak. The singer's wistful tone and mournful lyrics are a testament to the enduring power of love and the pain it can leave behind, even after the relationship is over.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's very late at night and we are the only ones left here.
Except you and me
There are only two of us here.
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
Can you please pour us another drink Joe? I have a story to tell you.
I think you should know
This is something important that I want to share with you.
We're drinking my friend, to the end
We are drinking to the conclusion of something.
Of a brief episode
A short period of time.
Make it one for my baby
Please pour me another drink.
And one more for the road
I'll have one more before I leave.
I know the routine, put another nickel
I am familiar with how this works, put another coin in the jukebox.
In the machine
This refers to the jukebox.
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
I'm feeling sad, can you please pick a song that matches my mood?
Easy and sad
A song that is slow and melancholy.
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
I have a lot to say, but it's not appropriate to share at the moment.
In a gentleman's code
Out of respect for social conventions.
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
You might not expect it, but I consider myself a poet.
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
I have many thoughts and feelings that I want to express.
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
If I seem sad, please listen to what I have to say.
Till it's talked away
Until my sadness is relieved by sharing my thoughts.
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
That's just how life is, and I know you are getting tired of me.
Anxious to close
Ready to close up for the night.
Thanks for the cheer
Thanks for keeping me company tonight.
I hope you didn't mind
I hope I didn't bother you too much.
My bending your ear
Talking to you a lot.
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
But this intense feeling I have needs to be extinguished.
Or it's gonna explode
Otherwise, my emotions will become too much for me to handle.
Make it one for my baby
Please give me one more drink before I go.
And one more for the road
I'll have one more drink before I leave.
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheRickie41
The magic of jazz is the ease and the playful sound. However, to reach perfection, it takes thousands of repetitions and hard work, and when it all fits together, you're privileged to listen to Stacey Kent.
@RAVELMUSIC11
Bossa nova foi um movimento de "música popular Brasileira" que surgiu no final dos anos 50,com forte influência em Samba de raiz,samba carioca....
Está música é brasileira e é BOSSA NOVA...🇧🇷
@TheRickie41
@RAVELrc_ I know that, I love her interpretation. I admire very much bossa nova...in the 60's, it was a musical revolution of extraordinary beauty!
@gabrielbraga1981
Just because there's extended chords, its not Jazz. Plz.
@TheRickie41
@Gabriel Braga No, it's bossa nova, I know that. but the lady is principally a jazz singer and I'm talking about her quality of interpretation, be it jazz or bossa nova.
@ayokay123
Had never heard her before. She's awesome! Wish she'd come to Chicago. So many venues here.
@TimNelson
If you just stumbled upon her, or as in my case have the consequential advantage of listening to jazz stylists for a half century, it's impossible to view her talent, commitment and body of work as anything other than absolute top drawer. She's up there with any of 'em. You name 'em. Ella, Sarah, Dinah, Josie Stafford, Vera Lynn, as the list gets shorter. I once had the pleasure of meeting her. She's as charming and delightful as you'd ever hope.
@marckg6950
Agreed top notch. Her slight inflections. Her choice of band mates. Her videpgraphy. her willingness for humor (audience) and even the shot of the makeup artist.. .
@leslieackerman4189
She has the best diction I’ve heard in decades. Big fan.
@ninoosan3703
True