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.
Night and Day
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick, tick, tock of a stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating
Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It's no matter, darling, where you are
I think of you night and day
Day and night, why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic's boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you night and day
Night and day, under the hide of me
There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And its torment won't be through (uh-huh)
'Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day
And its torment won't be through
'Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day
Day and night
Night and day
Day and night
Night and day
In Tony Bennett's song "Night and Day," the lyrics are packed with vivid comparisons and beautiful imagery, creating a sense of longing and intense desire. Throughout the song, Bennett compares his love to the beat of the tom-tom in the jungle, the ticking of a clock, and the drip of raindrops after a summer shower. He describes a constant voice within him repeating "you, you, you," emphasizing how his love is all-encompassing and ever-present. Bennett then goes on to describe how his longing for his significant other never fades, regardless of whether they are near or far.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "night and day," emphasizing the relentlessness of Bennett's longing. He describes this longing as "burning inside of me" and asserts that it won't be satisfied until he can "spend my life making love to you." The song is full of soft, lush instruments, complementing Bennett's smooth, melodic voice. The lyrics, melody, and instrumentation work together to create a sense of passion that is enchanting and all-consuming.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
The sound made by a tom-tom drum strikes through me with such intensity that it calls to mind the harsh and vibrant cacophony of a jungle at nightfall.
When the jungle shadows fall
As darkness falls upon a dense and humming jungle habitat.
Like the tick, tick, tock of a stately clock
With a sound comparable to the methodical ticking and tocking of an old clock, I am consumed by thoughts of your constant presence.
As it stands against the wall
Like a wall-mounted timekeeping device so too does my love for you remain unwavering and timeless.
Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
Similar to the gentle patter of post-rainfall droplets hitting rooftops, a voice within persists in its murmuring of your name.
When the summer shower is through
In the aftermath of a summer rainstorm, once it has ceased to be.
So a voice within me keeps repeating
A persistent voice within me speaks with echoes of the frequency of the raindrops.
You, you, you
The voice merely repeats the one word that is synonymous with the entirety of everything that makes life worth living - you.
Night and day, you are the one
My thoughts remain steadfastly focused on you, day and night, as you are the only person and love that matters to me.
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
You remain the one I love regardless of whether it is daytime or nighttime outdoors or whether the moon or sun is present in the sky above.
Whether near to me or far
Geographical distance has no bearing on your importance in my life since loving you is a constant.
It's no matter, darling, where you are
Encompassing all the distances and time periods possible between us, the presence of you in my thoughts is unwavering.
I think of you night and day
With love and affection that is undiminished and all-consuming, thoughts of only you are constantly with me.
Day and night, why is it so
Why this consuming longing for you continues without abatement is unclear, given that it traverses both daytime and nighttime.
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
Whether surrounded by the deafening noise of the city’s traffic or keeping company only with the silence of my solitude, thoughts of you persist continuously in the background.
In the roaring traffic's boom
Even amid a cityscape alive with sound, my thoughts are unshakably occupied with only you.
In the silence of my lonely room
In periods of loneliness and silence, thoughts of you remain just as vivid and profound.
I think of you night and day
Thoughts of you refuse to wane or diminish with the passing of time or other outside stimuli, consuming my heart and mind day and night.
Night and day, under the hide of me
Deep within me, beneath my surface veneer, lies an unquenchable hunger and longing for only you.
There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning
A powerful and relentless desire for you consumes me.
Burning inside of me
The intensity of that all-consuming longing can only be described as a fire that rages inside me.
And its torment won't be through (uh-huh)
The emotional pain brought on by this insatiable desire shows no signs of abating any time soon.
'Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Only with you as my partner in life and my lover, can my restless heart finally know a peace that is lasting and true.
Day and night, night and day
With each passing moment, this hunger for your love persists and refuses to let me go, day or night.
Day and night
As the cycle of each day begins anew, my desire for you remains constant and unrelenting.
Night and day
The insurmountable depth of my love, thoughts, and longing for you never falters, not even under the cover of nightfall.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Крістіна Мельничук
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Lile the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating
You, you, you
Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me, or far
It′s no matter darling where you are
I think of you night and day
Day and night, why is it so?
That this longing for your follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic's boom
In the silence of my lonely room, I think of you
Night and day, night and day under the hide of me
There′s an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me
And it's torment won't be through
′Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day
Night and day under the hide of me
There′s an oh such hungry yearning burning inside of me
And it's torment won′t be through
'Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day.
Sylvia
The fact that he is performing while suffering from Alzheimer's...I am speechless. Love this duo. What a gift to the world.
Magenta Otter Travels
Agree!
Christian
I hate alzheimers… 😔
Sylvia
@Christian me too. ❤️
Stephanie C. Howard
It's quite mesmerizing. It's like we're back in time. ❤❤❤❤❤
Malaika Marquis
This legit made me cry. Gaga has come such a long way, she’s experimented with different music styles and tastes and I’m living for it. I’ve been supporting her ever since I was 3 years old and first saw bad romance, I’m now 15 and still hooked to her music. She’s been a big influence on my life and I’m happy to say that her music has helped me become the individual I am today. I’ll never stop enjoying her music, thank you Gaga.
silvania das gracas silva
Ela e perfeita.lindissima.admiro MT o seu belíssimo trabalho,lady e demais.Deus o abençoe
Seek Truth Through Bravery
Supporting her since 3 years old, I read that and I thought "cut the bs" until I realize that babies can say "gugu Gaga" and it's actually true.
Ömer Işık
I'm 15 too. But i first saw paparazzi when i was 4 in 2011. I still remember that moment.
Xer Agustino
tbh, if someone will ask me what's the first music video that i see in my whole life, that's telephone back in 2011 (i guess) on our karaoke mtv and lady gaga will still be iconic and memorable for me