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.
Marry Young
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I guess that if you marry young
You can stumble and fall 'til you stand
But at least you stumble hand in hand
Never mind what they say, marry young
While its spring and the song is trembling to be sung
Let it slip off the tip of your tongue
The song Marry Young by Tony Bennett is a beautiful ode to the joys and challenges of marrying young. The opening line of the song asserts that heaven blesses those who choose to marry young. While this view may not be shared by all, Bennett seems to believe that getting married while still in the spring of life is the way to go. His argument is that if you marry young, you and your partner can go through ups and downs together and learn from those experiences. Even if you stumble along the way, at least you have someone to hold onto.
The theme of the song is further underscored in the second verse where Bennett sings that one should never mind what "they" say, but instead focus on the strong love between two people. Marriage, he suggests, is a beautiful expression of this love and should be embraced while the opportunity presents itself. The chorus drives the point home, encouraging lovers to let their hearts lead the way and marry young.
Overall, Marry Young is a romantic and inspiring song that celebrates the beauty of young love and encourages couples to take the leap into marriage. Whether or not the advice is sound is up for debate, but there is no doubt that Tony Bennett's heartfelt delivery and beautiful lyrics make for a memorable tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven bless people who marry young
May good fortune come to those who choose to marry at a young age
Though I guess that if you marry young
Although some may speculate that there are potential downsides to marrying young
You can stumble and fall 'til you stand
It's possible to face challenges and difficulties, but you can overcome them together
But at least you stumble hand in hand
Even when things get tough, you have each other for support
Never mind what they say, marry young
Don't let societal norms or judgments dictate your choices about when to get married
While its spring and the song is trembling to be sung
If you're in love and feel ready to commit, don't wait any longer and take advantage of the moment
Let it slip off the tip of your tongue
Speak your heart and express your love openly
I love you, you love me, people do, why don't we marry young?
We love each other, and many others have successfully married young, so why not us?
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CAROLYN LEIGH, CY COLEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind