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.
Stranger in Paradise
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All lost in a wonderland
A stranger in paradise
If I stand starry-eyed
That's a danger in paradise
For mortals who stand beside an angel like
I saw your face and I ascended
Somewhere in space I hang suspended
Until I know there's a chance that you care
Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise?
Don't send me in dark despair
From all that I hunger for
But open your angel's arms
To the stranger in paradise
And tell him that we need be
Our stranger no more
The song "Stranger in Paradise" by Tony Bennett is a beautiful love song that portrays the feeling of being lost in a wonderland, feeling starry-eyed and suspended, and being in danger because of the overwhelming feeling of standing beside an angel. The song speaks of the singer's yearning to be with the one he loves and how he is willing to overcome any obstacle to be with them. He wishes that his prayers will be answered and that he will not be left in dark despair without the one he loves.
The lyrics of this song paint a beautiful picture of paradise and the feeling of being lost in it. The singer describes how he saw the face of the one he loves and ascended out of the commonplace into the rare. The feeling of being suspended in space until he knows that his love is reciprocated is a powerful feeling that many people can relate to. The song is a plea for the one he loves to open their arms and embrace him, telling him that they need not be strangers anymore.
Overall, "Stranger in Paradise" is a beautifully written song that encompasses the feeling of love, longing, and desire. It speaks to the universal theme of wanting to be with the one you love and overcoming any obstacle to achieve that goal.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise
Let me guide you through a magical place that is unfamiliar to me too
All lost in a wonderland
I'm confused and amazed by the beauty and mystery around us
A stranger in paradise
I'm an outsider in this perfect world that I'm discovering with you
If I stand starry-eyed
If I stare too long at the incredible sights around me
That's a danger in paradise
I might lose touch with reality and not appreciate the true wonder of it all
For mortals who stand beside an angel like
Because it's hard for ordinary people like us to comprehend this kind of beauty
I saw your face and I ascended
When I saw you, I felt like I was lifted up to a higher level of existence
Out of the commonplace into the rare
I left behind the everyday world and experienced something extraordinary
Somewhere in space I hang suspended
I feel weightless, as if I'm floating through the universe
Until I know there's a chance that you care
But I need to know you feel the same way or it will all be for nothing
Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Please tell me that my dream can come true
Of a stranger in paradise?
For someone who is discovering a perfect world for the first time?
Don't send me in dark despair
Please don't disillusion me or take away the happiness I've just found
From all that I hunger for
From the love and acceptance that I've been missing in my life
But open your angel's arms
Instead, show me your love and kindness
To the stranger in paradise
And let me belong to this perfect world forever
And tell him that we need be
And say that we should be together
Our stranger no more
And I won't be an outsider anymore
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Forrest, Robert Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mac McCaskill
Lyrics :
"Stranger In Paradise"
Take my hand
I'm a stranger in Paradise
All lost in a wonderland
A stranger in paradise
If I stand starry-eyed
That's a danger in Paradise
For mortals who stand beside
An angel like you
I saw your face
And I ascended
Out of the common-place
Into the rarest
Somewhere in space
I hang suspended
Until I know
There's a chance that you care
Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise
Don't send me in dark despair
From all that I hunger for
But open your angel's arms
To this stranger in paradise
And tell him that he need be
A stranger no more.
Irish37
R.I.P. - One of the all-time greats. Thanks for all the glorious music, Tony. You are irreplaceable.
philip2508
Absolutely, there will never be singers like these crooners again, just fabulous ! !!!
pikeymikey47
He was in a league of his own 🙏
Portcullis
I kept playing this for my Dad during his final months, before he died last August, aged 92. It was a song he had loved for a long time, but not heard for years. My Mum followed him just 2 months later. This song will always remind me of Dad.
About half an hour ago, I had just returned from the sad task of doing some clearing at my parents' empty house, when I heard the cricket commentators talking about an American singer who'd had "a good innings". I guessed that it was Tony Bennett who had died. Sad news, but a long and successful career.
Jody Sackmann
This was my Dad's favorite song, too...sigh, like you this song will always remind me of him. May your Dad's memory be a blessing. My Dad's memory is...
AlMason253
Of all the crooners, Tony was my Dad's favorite.
Iain Robb
My dad’s favourite singer still listening now thinking of my Dad .
lloyd browne
One of the greatest voices to graced the Earth. You will be missed Tony. This one of my favourites. RIP
Sugarfree
Rest In Paradise, Mr. Bennett. 😢
Thank you for the music! This is one of my absolute favourite songs.
Marianne
I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2007. Such a kind man. He will be remembered for a very long time. 😢