Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family. His father, Thomas Turrentine, Sr., was a saxophonist with Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans, his mother played stride piano, and his older brother Tommy Turrentine became a professional trumpet player.
He began his prolific career with blues and rhythm and blues bands, and was at first greatly influenced by Illinois Jacquet. In the 1950s, he went on to play with the groups of Lowell Fulson, Earl Bostic, and at the turn of the decade, Max Roach.
Turrentine received his only formal musical training during his military stint in the mid-'50s. In 1959, he jumped from the frying pan into the fire when he left the military and went straight into the band of the great drummer Max Roach.
He married the organist Shirley Scott in 1960 and the two frequently played and recorded together. In the 1960s, he started working with organist Jimmy Smith, and made many soul jazz recordings both with Smith and as a leader.
In the 1970s, after his professional split and divorce from Scott, Turrentine turned to jazz fusion and signed for Creed Taylor's CTI label. His first album for CTI, Sugar proved one of his biggest successes and a seminal recording for the label. He worked with Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, George Benson, Bob James, Richard Tee, Idris Muhammad, Ron Carter, Grant Green and Eric Gale, to name a few. He returned to soul jazz in the 1980s and into the 1990s.
Turrentine lived in Fort Washington, Maryland from the early 90s until his death.
He died of a stroke in New York City on September 12, 2000 and is buried in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery
Hey Jude
Stanley Turrentine Lyrics
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Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
The lyrics to Stanley Turrentine's song Hey Jude are intended as a message of comfort and encouragement to someone who is experiencing emotional pain. The song encourages the person to take a sad song - a song that reflects their current emotional state - and make it better. This can be achieved by letting the person who caused the pain into their heart and beginning to work on making things better between them. The song acknowledges that this can be a difficult process and that the person may sometimes feel overwhelmed by their pain, but reminds them that carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders is not helpful and advises them to seek support from others when needed.
The chorus of the song is particularly memorable, with its use of the name Jude to create a sense of personal connection between the singer and the listener. The repetition of the phrase "hey Jude" throughout the song gives it a very personal feel, as if the singer is addressing someone they know and care about.
Overall, the message of Hey Jude is one of hope and resilience in the face of emotional pain, encouraging the listener to take positive steps to improve their situation and reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Jude, don't feel hopeless or despairing about your situation
Take a sad song and make it better
Use your skills and talents to turn something negative into something positive
Remember to let her into your heart
Jude, be open and vulnerable to the person you care about
Then you can start to make it better
Once you open up emotionally, you can work towards improving the situation
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
Jude, don't let fear hold you back from pursuing what you want
You were made to go out and get her
You have the ability and strength to pursue the person you care for
The minute you let her under your skin
Once you become emotionally invested in this person
Then you begin to make it better
Your relationship with this person can improve and grow from there
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
When you experience emotional pain, don't hold onto it or act out impulsively
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
You don't have to bear the weight of the world's problems on your own
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
Pretending not to care or being indifferent can harm your relationships
By making his world a little colder
Being emotionally distant can negatively impact your relationships
Hey Jude, don't let me down
Don't disappoint this person you care about
You have found her, now go and get her
You have found someone special, so pursue a relationship with them
Remember to let her into your heart
Be open and vulnerable to this person you care for
Then you can start to make it better
Your relationship with this person can grow and improve from there
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
Express your emotions to this person, and be open to receiving theirs in return
You're waiting for someone to perform with
You're seeking a partner to share your life with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
You don't need anyone else to make you happy, you can do it on your own
The movement you need is on your shoulder
The power to change your life is within you
Better better better better better better, oh
Your life and relationships can continue to improve and grow through emotional openness.
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
A cheerful refrain to bring joy to the listener.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind