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.
Out Of This World
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm looking at you
I hear out of this world
The music that no mortal ever knew
You're right out of a book
The fairy tale I read when I was so hig
No armored knight out of a book
Then I
After waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
All at once from long and lonely night time
And despite time, here you are
I cry, out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
After waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
All at once from long and lonely night time
And despite time, here you are
I cry, out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
Clear out of this world
Clear out of this world
Clear out of this world
Clear out, clear out
In Tony Bennett's "Out of This World," the singer describes the enchanting power of his lover's beauty and presence. From the opening line, "You're clear out of this world," he expresses how otherworldly and uncommon his partner is. He connects this to the music that they hear, which is also beyond the confines of the mortal world. Bennett alludes to the idea of a fairy tale, saying that the object of his affection is "right out of a book," specifically "the fairy tale I read when I was so high." The person in question is even more spellbinding than the mythical Lorelei, a legendary figure of seduction from Germanic folklore. The singer feels lucky to have found someone of such rare beauty and depth of character, and the idea of losing them fills him with great sadness.
Bennett describes how he has waited, reached, and hoped for a long time to find someone like his lover. But with this person, he feels that his search was finally successful. He rejoices in the knowledge that despite the difficulties he encountered along his journey, his beloved is here and now with him. He declares that if he were to lose them, he would be "out of this world," as they are the only one who can keep him grounded.
Line by Line Meaning
You're clear out of this world
You are exceptional and beyond anything I could have imagined.
When I'm looking at you
I feel like I am seeing something otherworldly and ethereal.
I hear out of this world
Your presence evokes a wonderful melody that nobody has ever heard before.
The music that no mortal ever knew
This incredible sensation I get from being with you is like nothing I’ve experienced before.
You're right out of a book
You're like something out of an incredible and magical fairytale that I once read.
The fairy tale I read when I was so high
The tale that I once read, that sparked my imagination and gave me hope that someday I'd find someone like you.
No armored knight out of a book
Even the most valiant and noble heroes from epic tales couldn't compare to your enchanting beauty.
Could find a more enchanted Loralei
Loralei is a mythical creature who is known for having magical powers and being incredibly enchanting; nobody can hold a candle to you.
After waiting so long for the right time
I've been waiting for you for so long, dreaming of a time when we could find each other and be together.
After reaching so long for a star
In my most desperate moments, I would reach for the stars and wish that someday I'd find you.
All at once from long and lonely night time
Suddenly, after having been alone for so long, you entered my life, illuminating my world and bringing hope to my days.
And despite time, here you are
Despite the time that has passed and the trials I've faced, you are finally here, with me, and I couldn't be happier.
I cry, out of this world
You are so incredible that sometimes just thinking about you makes me feel emotional.
If you said we were through
If you decided you didn't want to be with me anymore.
So let me fly out of this world
I would rather leave this world and spend eternity in the next with you than face life without you.
And spend the next eternity or two with you
I want to spend forever – and maybe even a little bit more – with you; there's nobody else I'd rather be with.
Clear out of this world
You are so amazing and out of this world that I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be with you.
Clear out of this world
You are enchanting and ethereal in a way that I have never experienced before.
Clear out of this world
You are exceptional, and beyond my wildest dreams or expectations.
Clear out, clear out
You are so incredible – so clear out of this world – that it's like nothing else even matters.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stav 🦄
You're clear out of this world
When I am looking at you
I hear out of this world
The music that no mortal ever knew
You're right out of a book
The fairy tale I read when I was so high
No amoured knight out of a book
Was more enchanted by a laurel life
And I after waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
All at once from the long and lonely nighttime
And despite time, here you are
I'd cry out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
After waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
And at once from the long and lonely nighttime
And despite time, here you are
I'd cry out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
You're clear, out of this world
Out of this world, out of this world
Rob Jones
Magnificent.
Tony and Stan swings so well on this elegant track, I have it on vinyl but haven't played
for decades. Thanks for posting it.
Brother Taro
"the next eternity or two" 🙂
R.I.P. Tony Bennett, a master of American song ... along with his recordings with Bill Evans, this is my favorite he ever did
Cy Green - SONGWRITER
GREAT GROUP! Stan backed Tony with real feeling. Too bad they did not do a FULL LP. It may have rivaled the
Coltrane/Hartman collaboration from the previous year.
Stav 🦄
You're clear out of this world
When I am looking at you
I hear out of this world
The music that no mortal ever knew
You're right out of a book
The fairy tale I read when I was so high
No amoured knight out of a book
Was more enchanted by a laurel life
And I after waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
All at once from the long and lonely nighttime
And despite time, here you are
I'd cry out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
After waiting so long for the right time
After reaching so long for a star
And at once from the long and lonely nighttime
And despite time, here you are
I'd cry out of this world
If you said we were through
So let me fly out of this world
And spend the next eternity or two with you
You're clear, out of this world
Out of this world, out of this world
Frances Gates
I also love Dakota Staton's rendition ❤
imonthebox1
Music by Harold Arlen. Words by Johnny Mercer. For those who dont know, Harold Arlen also wrote the songs in The Wizard of Oz, with lyricist, E.Y. Harburg......
tuxguys
Look at the personnel (in the program notes up above):
Occasionally, it gets this heavy...
...but it never gets heavier.
NEVER.
Stan Getz provides an object lesson in "understatement:" It's not how many notes, it's how many "right" notes; all of Stan Getz's notes are RIGHT, always.
(Listen to it again, and imbibe Elvin Jones' drumming:
There's a reason why he and Ginger Baker had a public rivalry, exacerbated by DOWNBEAT magazine, around 1970...
They were both too damn astonishing, and too damn original.)
H Timezone
+tuxguys Stan's sax is so sweet on this too. Clear out of this world.
Andrew Chaplowitz
Elvin playing straight ahead
Better than great
He swings but its not swing
Brilliant
I think Rin Carger was in bass, Harvie or Chick on piano and of course Stan on tenor
Joseph Guderian
Like this, but Chris Connor put the right butter on J. Mercer's words