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.
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was the sweetest melody
I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song
Since you and I have drifted apart
Life doesn't mean a thing to me
Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong
You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends
I let a song go out of my heart
Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day
I let a song go out of my heart
Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day
In Tony Bennett's song "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," the lyrics tell the story of someone who has lost the love of their life, and with that loss, has lost the ability to appreciate the music that once brought them great joy. The song opens with the singer expressing regret for letting the sweetest melody go out of their heart, a reference to the love they once shared with their partner. They believe that losing their love made them lose their connection to heaven, as their partner was the sweet music that brought them true happiness.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses the emptiness they have felt since their partner has left their life. Life has lost its meaning, and they yearn for the return of the sweet music that filled their heart. They question whether it is too late to make amends with their partner, knowing deep down that they were meant to be more than just friends. The singer's heartfelt plea to have their love return brings to light the power of music to bring people together and heal broken hearts.
Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the idea that love, like music, has the power to elevate us to a higher place, and losing it can be devastating. The singer laments the loss of love and the music that once brought them joy, but holds out hope that their love will return, and with it, the sweet music that once filled their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I let a song go out of my heart
I allowed a melody that was once part of my heart to disappear
It was the sweetest melody
This particular melody was the most delightful one
I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song
When I let go of this melody, I lost the heaven that we shared, as you were the inspiration for it
Since you and I have drifted apart
Ever since we separated and lost our close bond
Life doesn't mean a thing to me
My life is incomplete and meaningless without you
Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong
I am begging for you to come back, as I realize my mistake in letting go of our sweet melody
Am I too late to make amends?
Is it too late for me to apologize and fix our relationship?
You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends
Deep down, we both know that our connection was supposed to be more than just a friendly one
Believe me, darlin', when I say
Trust me, my love, when I promise
I won't know sweet music until you return some day
I cannot experience the sweetness of music until you come back into my life someday
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, HENRY NEMO, JOHN REDMOND, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind