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.
The Letter
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night may be moonless.
But deep in my heart,
I know that you love me,
You love me, because you told me so.
Love letters straight from your heart
Keep us so near while we're apart.
When I can have all the love you write.
I memorize every line,
I kiss the name that you sign.
And darling, then I read again
Right from the start,
Love letters straight from your heart.
I memorize every line,
I kiss the name that you sign.
And darling, then I read again
Right from the start,
Love letters straight from your heart.
Tony Bennett's song, The Letter, talks about the power of love letters to keep the feeling of love alive despite distance and time. The song begins with the setting of a starless sky and moonless night, symbolizing the darkness and loneliness one can feel when separated from a loved one. However, the singer reassures himself by recalling the love that has been declared to him. He indicates that he is certain that his lover loves him because the lover has told him so. The lyrics express the importance of maintaining a connection with someone through writing while they are away. The singer reveals that the love letters he receives from his lover keep him feeling close to them even when they are physically apart. He holds onto these letters not only for the emotional connection but for the memories they evoke. The lyrics suggest the importance of capturing love in tangible ways to hold onto its memory when distance threatens to consume it.
One interesting fact about the song 'The Letter' by Tony Bennett is that it was written by Victor Young, one of the most successful composers in Hollywood history who received fifty-six Academy Award nominations. Another fact is this song originally appeared in a film, 'The Uninvited' and was considered one of the most prestigious accolades a ballad could receive in the mid-20th century. The song recorded by Tony Bennett is a cover version of a song made famous by The Four Aces. Additionally, the song was produced by well-known musician Ray Conniff, a great American composer, arranger, and bandleader. The artwork of 'The Letter' is black and white and it features a pen writing a letter with the words of the song written beneath it. Furthermore, the song was released in 1952 and became a hit reaching No. 16 on the Billboard charts. Lastly, Tony Bennett's signature style and beautiful voice bring to life the essence of the lyrics to create a timeless classic that resonated with listeners then and continues to do so today.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for "The Letter" by Tony Bennett are not available to us. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky may be starless,
Even in the darkness, when there seems to be no hope, I still have faith.
The night may be moonless.
Even if there is no light to guide me, I know that you are always with me.
But deep in my heart,
In the quiet recesses of my heart, I hold onto the knowledge that you will never leave me.
I know that you love me,
I trust completely in the depth and sincerity of your affection for me.
You love me, because you told me so.
I have heard the words from your own lips, confirming that your feelings are true.
Love letters straight from your heart
Your written expressions of love carry the full weight and beauty of your heart's feelings.
Keep us so near while we're apart.
Even when we are physically separated, the words you write to me bring us close together.
I'm not alone in the night
The darkness feels less oppressive knowing that your love is always with me.
When I can have all the love you write.
Reading your words of love brings me so much joy and comfort, even if we cannot be together in person.
I memorize every line,
I commit every word to memory, savoring each precious expression of love.
I kiss the name that you sign.
I show my love and devotion by kissing the name you have written, as a sign of my appreciation.
And darling, then I read again
I cannot resist the urge to read your love letters over and over again, cherishing them anew each time.
Right from the start,
I never tire of reliving the beauty of our love, as it is reflected in your heartfelt words.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WAYNE HECTOR, PETER LORD, PETER MORELAND, VERNON SMITH, V JEFFREY SMITH, ALISTAIR TENNANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind