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 Wonder
Tony Bennett Lyrics
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Where can you be this moonlit night
Are you holding someone tight
I wonder
My heart is aching, I'm a fool
To let it go on breaking
Maybe I'll awake and find that I'm mistaken
I wonder my little baby
Where can you be this moonlit night
Are you holding someone tight
Baby, I wonder
My heart is aching but I'm a fool
To let it go on breaking
Maybe I'll awake and find I'm mistaken, baby
I wonder
Baby, since we're through I've been through lover's lane
But in my heart there's only pain
You went traveling, will it last?
While I'm traveling nowhere fast, sweetheart
I wonder, where, where, where, where, little baby
Will you think of me again today
Though I may be a million miles away
I wonder, I wonder
The lyrics to Tony Bennett and k.d. lang's song "I Wonder" is a contemplative one. The singer wonders where their lover is and if they are with someone else. They express their anguish as their heart continues to ache. Despite this, they acknowledge that they may be foolish to let their heart keep breaking. There is a sense of uncertainty and hopefulness as the singer wonders if they will wake up and find that they were wrong to worry about their lover being with someone else.
The song speaks to the common theme of love and loss. The singer is grasping at the threads of the relationship they once had, but is unsure of what the future holds. They can't help but continue to wonder where their lover is and if they are still in love with them. The song also touches on the idea of regret, as the singer reflects on their decision to let their lover go.
Overall, "I Wonder" is a touching and heartfelt song that delves into the complexities of love and relationships. It speaks to the human experience of longing, uncertainty, and hope in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder my little darling
The singer is expressing uncertainty about the whereabouts of their significant other
Where can you be this moonlit night
The singer is wondering where their significant other is on this particular night
Are you holding someone tight
The singer is questioning if their significant other is in the arms of someone else
I wonder
The artist continues to express their uncertainty and questioning
My heart is aching, I'm a fool
The artist is in emotional pain and acknowledges their foolishness
To let it go on breaking
The singer regrets allowing their heart to continue to be broken
Maybe I'll awake and find that I'm mistaken
The singer holds out hope that their doubts and fears are unfounded
I wonder
The artist repeats their earlier expression of uncertainty and questioning
I wonder my little baby
The artist continues to express uncertainty about their significant other
Baby, I wonder
The artist repeats their use of a term of endearment towards their significant other
My heart is aching but I'm a fool
The singer again acknowledges their emotional pain and recognizes their foolishness
To let it go on breaking
The artist again expresses regret for allowing their heart to continue to be broken
Maybe I'll awake and find I'm mistaken, baby
The singer holds out hope that their doubts and fears are unfounded and repeats their use of a term of endearment
Baby, since we're through I've been through lover's lane
After the relationship ended, the singer has had other romantic pursuits
But in my heart there's only pain
Despite other romantic pursuits, the singer's heart still aches with pain
You went traveling, will it last?
The artist's significant other has gone on a trip and the artist is questioning the longevity of the trip
While I'm traveling nowhere fast, sweetheart
The artist is feeling stagnant and stuck while their significant other is traveling
I wonder, where, where, where, where, little baby
The singer continues to express uncertainty about their significant other
Will you think of me again today
The singer is questioning if their significant other is thinking of them
Though I may be a million miles away
The artist is physically separated from their significant other
I wonder, I wonder
The artist repeats their earlier expression of uncertainty and questioning
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTISS LENNARD BOONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind