In his teens, Charlie attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and played in the school orchestra before joining the Army in 1943. He saw combat, but was eventually stationed in Jazz infused 1945 Paris as part of the Army Special Services band. At this time, he saw Django Reinhardt perform whom he accredited to being one of his earliest influences.
At the end of WW II, he moved to New York to study composition and jazz theory at the Manhattan Harnett National Music School which eventually led to his life-long interest in classical guitar. Starting with a move to Washington, D.C. in 1950, he studied classical guitar with Sophocles Papos and then in 1954 he traveled to Italy to become a pupil of the classical guitarist legend Andres Segovia.
By 1957 he was recording with Savoy as The Charlie Byrd Duo with Tom Newson on flute. The same year he meets double bassist Keter Betts which marks the beginning of a long collaboration. Other musicians associated with the Charlie Byrd trio include Vince Guaraldi, Bill Harris, Nat Adderley and drummer Jimmy Campbell. Key associates include Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis with whom he published as The Great Guitars. His discography is too long to list, but recordings of note are:
* Au Courant
* Bossa Nova years
* Byrd At The Gate
* Byrd in the Wind
* I've Got the World on a String
Through his trio and otherwise, Charlie Byrd is widely know for having brought together Classical, Jazz, Blues and later, most notably, with Stan Getz, Bossa Nova. One important distinction to note is how Charlie was not motivated by a desire to create what was to later become fusion. Rather, he sought to contain the integrity of each form while contrasting their complementary features. The hot blooded swing of Jazz should not be inhibited by classical technical purity; nor should the delicate and precise lyricism of classical form be washed away by out of context Jazz riffs.
Emily
The Charlie Byrd Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has the murmuring sound of may
All silver bells, coral shells, carousels
And the laughter of children at play
Say Emily, Emily, Emily
And we fade to a marvelous view
Two lovers alone and out of sight
As my eyes visualize a family
They see Emily, Emily
(and we fade to a marvelous view)
Two lovers alone and out of sight
Seeing images in the firelight
As my eyes visualize a family
They see Emily, Emily
Too
The Charlie Byrd Trio's song "Emily" is a romantic ballad that describes the beauty and charm of a woman named Emily. The song starts with the repetition of her name, giving an immediate sense of her importance and the adoration that the singer has towards her. The lyrics use descriptive language such as "murmuring sound of may," "silver bells," "coral shells," and "carousels" to paint a vivid picture of Emily's charm and grace.
The second verse of the song takes the listener on a journey into the imagination of the singer, as he visualizes two lovers sitting in front of a firelight seeing images. The lyrics suggest that Emily is more than just a romantic interest but a vision of a future family. The singer, through his eyes, visualizes a family, and they see the image of Emily. The repetition of Emily's name reinforces the singer's affection for her, and the imagery of the firelight brings a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Overall, "Emily" is a heartfelt love song that celebrates the beauty and charm of the woman who holds the singer's heart. It is a song that captures the essence of a romance that is both romantic and hopeful.
Line by Line Meaning
Emily, Emily, Emily
The name Emily is being repeated as if calling for her.
Has the murmuring sound of may
Emily has the gentle, soothing sound of spring (May).
All silver bells, coral shells, carousels
Emily is associated with wonderful things like shiny bells, pretty shells, and fun carousels.
And the laughter of children at play
Emily brings joy with the sound of children playing and laughing.
Say Emily, Emily, Emily
Emily is being called upon again.
And we fade to a marvelous view
Talking about Emily makes the singer feel like they are entering a beautiful, dreamlike state.
Two lovers alone and out of sight
In this dreamlike state, the singer sees two people in love, away from everyone else.
Seeing images in the firelight
The images the artist sees are in the soft glow of a fire.
As my eyes visualize a family
The dreamlike state becomes even more vivid as the artist pictures a happy family.
They see Emily, Emily
Even in their happy visions of family, Emily is still present and important.
Too
This word is likely meant to signal the end of the song. There is no deeper meaning to it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ricky Ross, Scott Fraser, Pete Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind