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.
Let There Be Love
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let there be me.
Let there be oysters
Under the sea.
Let there be wind,
An occasional rain.
Chile con carne,
Let there be birds
To sing in the trees,
Someone to bless me
Whenever I sneeze.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please
Let there be love.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please
Let there be love
Let there be love.
The lyrics to Tony Bennett's "Let There Be Love" are a charming and playful celebration of life's simple pleasures, culminating in an earnest plea for love. While various objects and experiences are mentioned -- oysters, wind, rain, chili con carne, champagne, birds, sneezing, and cuckoos, larks, and doves -- these are not meant to be taken too literally or as an exhaustive list. Rather, they represent the myriad sensory joys that make life worth living. The repetition of "Let there be..." reinforces the idea that life is a gift, to be embraced and appreciated in all its facets.
The final stanza, which repeats the line "Let there be cuckoos, a lark and a dove, but first of all, please let there be love," brings the song's playful tone to a more serious level. Love, the singer suggests, is the most important ingredient of all. Whether romantic love or simply the love of life and the world around us, it is the foundation upon which everything else rests. The song's gentle melody and easygoing rhythm reinforce its message of acceptance, joy, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Let there be you,
I hope that you exist in my life and in the world.
Let there be me.
I hope that I exist in my life and in the world.
Let there be oysters
Under the sea.
May the world be abundant with all sorts of natural wonders and food.
Let there be wind,
An occasional rain.
May the world be filled with all kinds of weather, good or bad.
Chile con carne,
Sparkling champagne
May the world be filled with all sorts of flavors and drinks.
Let there be birds
To sing in the trees,
May the world be filled with all sorts of beautiful creatures, and the sounds of their songs.
Someone to bless me
Whenever I sneeze.
May I always have someone to take care of me and wish me well.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
May the world be filled with all sorts of birds, and their unique calls filled with nature's music.
But first of all, please
Let there be love.
Above all else, let there be love in the world, and in all of our hearts.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
May the world be filled with all sorts of birds, and their unique calls filled with nature's music.
But first of all, please
Let there be love.
Above all else, let there be love in the world, and in all of our hearts.
Let there be love.
Ultimately, let love be the most important aspect of life - in all its shapes and forms.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: IAN GRANT, LIONEL RAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind