Puerling's Singers Unlimited arrangements earned him the reputation as one of the best vocal writers in the world. Members of the renowned jazz-gospel vocal group Take 6 often gives credit to Puerling and the Singers Unlimted as innovators in the a cappella world, claiming that they "went to school" on Puerling's arrangements.
Skylark
The Singers Unlimited Lyrics
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Have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
The song Skylark, originally composed by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer, revolves around a yearning for love and connection that the singer is unable to find on their own. The singer addresses a skylark, asking for guidance and direction to locate their longed-for lover. The verse suggests that the skylark is a magical, ethereal being who might have supernatural abilities to hear music in the night and to locate hidden, romantic fields covered in blossoms, that are otherwise invisible to the human eye. The singer's sense of longing is palpable and this yearning is amplified by the melancholic melody that mirrors the desolation of the singer's heart.
The words suggest that the skylark serves as a symbol for hope and optimism, through enabling the singer to find love and connection in the world. The imagery used in the song - meadows in the mist and blossom-covered lanes - paradoxically suggest that hope is formed from the most fragile and transient of perceptions, yet it has the power to inspire, comfort, and transform us. As the song comes to an end, the singer implores the skylark to lead them to the places they seek. In this case, the skylark serves as the spirit guide, increasing the sense that the singer is assisted by a supernatural force.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
The singer addresses the bird, Skylark.
Have you anything to say to me?
The singer asks Skylark if it has any message for them.
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
The singer asks Skylark to reveal the whereabouts of their love.
Is there a meadow in the mist
The singer inquires whether there's a meadow amidst the fog.
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
The singer wonders if their love is waiting to be kissed in that meadow.
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
The singer asks if Skylark has witnessed a springtime valley.
Where my heart can go a journeying
The singer wishes to journey to that valley with their heart.
Over the shadows and the rain
The singer wishes to transcend the obstacles of shadows and rain en route.
To a blossom covered lane
The journey leads to a lane covered with blossoms.
And in your lonely flight
The singer acknowledges Skylark's solitary flight.
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
The singer asks if Skylark has heard the music of the night.
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
The music is subdued yet lovely, like the flickering light of a will-o'-the-wisp.
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
The music is insane like a loon, and mournful like a gypsy's moonlit serenade.
Oh skylark
The singer addresses Skylark once again.
I don't know if you can find these things
The singer admits their uncertainty in Skylark's ability to locate the aforementioned things.
But my heart is riding on your wings
Despite their doubts, the singer's heart is relying on Skylark's guidance.
So if you see them anywhere
If Skylark encounters the things mentioned, the singer implores it to let them know.
Won't you lead me there?
The singer asks Skylark to lead them to the things they seek.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind