Anthony Dominick Benedetto, known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Anthony Dominick Benedetto, known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes and jazz. He is also a painter, having created works under his birth name that are on permanent public display in several institutions. He is the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York.

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.

Indian Summer
Tony Bennett Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Summer, you old Indian summer
You're the tear that comes after June-time's laughter
You see so many dreams that don't come true
Dreams we fashioned when summertime was new

You are here to watch over
Some heart that is broken
By a word that somebody left unspoken

You're the ghost of a romance in June going astray
Fading too soon, that's why I say
"Farewell to you, Indian summer"

You are here to watch over
Some heart that is broken
By a word that somebody left unspoken

You're the ghost of a romance in June going astray

Fading too soon, that's why I say
"Farewell to you, Indian summer"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tony Bennett's song Indian Summer center on a bittersweet farewell to the fleeting warmth and joy of the titular season. The opening line addresses the season as a personified entity, invoking the image of an old Indian summer, one that has come and gone many times before. The next line speaks to the nostalgia that often accompanies the end of summer, with the tear that follows June-time's laughter suggesting a sense of loss or sadness that lingers even as the season winds down.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the way in which summer can inspire hopeful dreams and romances that often fail to come to fruition. These dreams were "fashioned when summertime was new" - suggesting a sense of innocence, optimism, and possibility that fades as the season progresses. The final lines of the chorus highlight the role that summer can play in comforting those who have been hurt by love or life more broadly, serving as a kind of guardian or protector over broken hearts.

Line by Line Meaning

Summer, you old Indian summer
Summer, you nostalgic time that reminds us of lost love and missed opportunities

You're the tear that comes after June-time's laughter
You bring sadness and heartache after a season filled with happiness and joy

You see so many dreams that don't come true
You witness the failure of the dreams and aspirations that we had at the start of summer

Dreams we fashioned when summertime was new
The dreams and goals that we created at the beginning of the season, full of possibilities and hope

You are here to watch over
You remain present, overseeing and guiding us through the difficult times

Some heart that is broken
Someone who is experiencing deep emotional pain

By a word that somebody left unspoken
A kind or loving word that someone failed to say, causing hurt and regret

You're the ghost of a romance in June going astray
You represent a failed or unfulfilled love that was supposed to be realized in the summer

Fading too soon, that's why I say
Disappearing faster than expected or hoped for, making it necessary to say goodbye

"Farewell to you, Indian summer"
Goodbye to the season that reminds us of what we've lost and failed to achieve

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Victor Herbert

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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