Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", (Apri… Read Full Bio ↴Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

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

Someone to Watch over Me
Stanley Turrentine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet

Hes the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram

Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed

Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stanley Turrentine's "Someone to Watch Over Me" are an example of traditional jazz storytelling through song. Jazz music is known for its improvisation and the freedom it gives to its performers, but the narrative aspect of its lyrics also plays a significant role. The song opens with a well-known quote that speaks of the idea of love being blind. However, the author's perspective is more focused on the search for love, as the lyrics suggest: "seek and ye shall find." The singer is on a quest to find a certain someone, who is described as a big deal that can't be forgotten. The song is written in a way that suggests urgency, as the singer seems to be looking everywhere but cannot seem to locate this elusive figure.

The second verse makes it clear that the search is for someone that the singer has already met. The lyrics are potent here in their expression of regret, as the singer confesses that this person is the only one she has ever felt this way about. She imagines adding her initial to his monogram and calls herself a lost lamb in need of a shepherd. These images play with the traditional binary roles of men and women in relationships, with the singer finding herself in a vulnerable position in need of guidance from a stronger figure.

The chorus is the most famous part of the song, with its simple melody alternating between two chords. The singer expresses the hope that this mystery man will be someone who will watch over her, referencing the shepherd figure from before. The lyrics, "Although he may not be the man some/Girls think of as handsome," suggest that this person may not be conventionally attractive, but he holds the key to her heart. The final verse is a plea for this person to hurry up and find her, with the singer promising to follow his lead and expressing her dire need for guidance.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a saying old says that love is blind
Love can be blind, as the proverb goes

Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
Even so, we are often advised to actively search for love

So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
That's what I intend to do, look for this guy I've been thinking about

Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
I've searched high and low, but still haven't found him

He's the big affair I cannot forget
He is the significant event I cannot get out of my mind

Only man I ever think of with regret
The only man that I have regrets about is him

I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
I wish to include his initials alongside mine on personal belongings

Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
I need someone to guide me like a shepherd does his sheep

There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I have a strong desire to meet somebody

I hope that he turns out to be
I have high hopes that he will eventually become

Someone who'll watch over me
A person who will care for me and offer protection

I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I feel vulnerable and helpless like a lost lamb in the woods

I know I could always be good
I'm aware that I can behave well and make him proud

Someone who'll watch over me
I need someone to look out for me and keep me safe

Although he may not be the man some
Even if he may not be the kind of man that some women desire

Girls think of as handsome
Girls typically consider attractive

To my heart he carries the key
He holds the key to my heart

Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Can you urge him to hurry up and come to me?

Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Please come along with me, I'm desperate for you

Someone to watch over me
I'm yearning for someone who will care for me and watch over me

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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