Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as a U.S. Army infantryman in the European Theater. Afterward, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records and had his first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several tracks such as "Rags to Riches" followed in early 1953. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and personal life experienced an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s, putting out gold record albums again and expanding his reach to the MTV generation while keeping his musical style intact.
Bennett continued to create popular and critically praised work into the 21st century. He attracted acclaim for his collaborations with Lady Gaga, which began with the album Cheek to Cheek (2014); the two performers toured together to promote the album throughout 2014 and 2015. With the release of the duo's second album, Love for Sale (2021), Bennett broke the individual record for the longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist; his first top-10 record was I Left My Heart in San Francisco in 1962. Bennett also broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days.
Bennett has amassed numerous accolades throughout his career, including 19 Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. Bennett has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
In February 2021, it was revealed that Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. Due to the slow progression of his illness, he continued to record, tour, and perform until his retirement from concert performances in August 2021 due to physical challenges.
Bennett died in New York City on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the age of 96. His death was announced by his publicist.
Deck the Halls
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The lyrics of "Deck the Halls" describe the traditional practice of decorating homes during the Christmas season. The opening line encourages people to adorn their homes with boughs of holly, which is a symbol of the season. The repeated refrain of "fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la" emphasizes the joyful, celebratory nature of the season. The lyrics go on to describe the abundance of music and festivities during the Christmas season, including the singing of ancient Yule-tide carols, playing musical instruments like the harp, and exchanging gifts with loved ones.
The second verse mentions the "blazing Yule," referring to the Yule log, which was a traditional symbol of the winter solstice in many cultures. The Yule log was burned throughout the night of the solstice to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. The verse then continues to encourage everyone to join in the joyful celebration, following the lead of the singer in a "merry measure." The final verse acknowledges the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new year, encouraging everyone to sing joyously together and ignore any external hardships or difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
It's time to decorate the halls with holly branches.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Singing festive la-la-las to put everyone in the mood.
'Tis the season to be jolly
This is the time of the year to be happy and celebrate.
Don we now our gay apparel
We should put on our colorful clothes and dress up.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Sing the old carols of Yule-tide and spread cheer.
See the blazing Yule before us
The bright burning Yule log is a sign of warmth and hope.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Play music and sing along with everyone.
Follow me in merry measure
Join me in a joyful dance to celebrate the season.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Listen to my tales of the wonders of this time of year.
Fast away the old year passes
The old year is quickly passing us by.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Welcome the new year with enthusiasm and cheers, boys and girls.
Sing we joyous, all together
Let's sing happily in unison.
Heedless of the wind and weather
We should ignore the harsh weather and enjoy this wonderful season.
Lyrics © Phonographic Digital Limited (PDL), BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel D Spencer
So wonderful! Thank you, Mr Tony Bennett, for the joy you are bringing!
Roy Massey
I like it when he performs with the London Smphony Orchestra