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.
Rules of the Road
Tony Bennett Lyrics
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The tricks of the trade
The rules of the road
I'm one of the dopes
For whom they were made
I'm a fool of the road
And recklessly miss
A bend of the road
Then suddenly this
The end of the road
Love is a hoax
A glittering string
Of little white lies
But these are the jokes
That's why they bring
Tears to your eyes
Well, love often
Shows a funny return
The brighter it glows
The longer you burn
And Lord only knows
Love has little concern
For the fools of the road
But that's how it goes
You live and you learn
The rules of the road
The song "The Rules of the Road" is essentially a lesson about the hardships of love and the tough lessons one learns over time. Tony Bennett's vocals, accompanied by Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra, are both charismatic and authoritative. The opening lyrics, "Well, these are the ropes, the tricks of the trade, the rules of the road" make it clear that the song is about what happens when one falls in love and how it often ends in pain. However, despite these harsh truths, the lyrical message is ultimately one of hope, that it is possible to learn and grow from these experiences.
The song offers advice on how to deal with the ambiguous and unpredictable nature of love to listeners who are stuck on the road of love. It talks about how we often follow reckless kisses and miss important turns in our journey, ultimately leading to tears and heartbreak. The lyrics acknowledge that love is often a series of lies and manipulation, but the ultimate conclusion is that it is still worthwhile pursuing. The lessons of love might be painful, but they can be learned and ultimately lead to growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Well these are the ropes
These are the guidelines to follow
The tricks of the trade
The secret techniques to succeed
The rules of the road
The fundamental principles of life
I'm one of the dopes
I'm one of the inexperienced ones
For whom they were made
For whom these rules were created
I'm a fool of the road
I'm foolishly wandering through life
You follow that kiss
You get carried away by a romantic moment
And recklessly miss
And carelessly disregard
A bend of the road
A warning sign of trouble ahead
Then suddenly this
Then all of a sudden
The end of the road
The inevitable conclusion
Love is a hoax
Love is a deception
A glittering string
An attractive yet fragile connection
Of little white lies
Of small falsehoods
But these are the jokes
But these are the amusing aspects of it
That's why they bring
That's why they lead
Tears to your eyes
Sadness to your heart
Well, love often
Love frequently
Shows a funny return
Has an unexpected outcome
The brighter it glows
The more intense it becomes
The longer you burn
The longer you endure
And Lord only knows
And only God knows
Love has little concern
Love pays little attention
For the fools of the road
For those who are ignorant of the principle of love
But that's how it goes
But that's how life can be
You live and you learn
You gain experience throughout your life
The rules of the road
The fundamental principles of life
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAROLYN LEIGH, CY COLEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind