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 Trolley Song
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
For the moment I saw him I fell
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He asked my name I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
"Buzz, buzz, buzz" went the buzzer
"Plop, plop, plop" went the wheels
"Stop, stop, stop" went my heartstrings
As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and it was grand
Just to stand with his hand holding mine
All the way to the end of the line
The "Trolley Song" is a memorable number sang by Tony Bennett, that features the rollicking rhythms and the spirit of the trolley cars in the 1940s. The song embraces the feeling that comes with riding on a trolley car and how it brings people together, and it narrates a story of a woman who falls in love with a man she sees on the trolley.
The song's lyrics convey the sensations that evoke the experience of riding a trolley car in 'clang, clang, clang,' 'ding, ding, ding,' rings, 'buzz, buzz, buzz' of the bells, and the rhythmic sounds of the wheels' 'plop, plop, plop.'
The woman identifies a man on the trolley and feels an instant connection with him, taken aback by his charm, and falls in love with him. The woman gets nervous around him and cannot speak even when asked for her name. However, she discovers the mutual connection, and they ride the rest of the way together, hand in hand, charmed by each other's company.
In a nutshell, "Trolley Song" celebrates the joy of music, the freedom of travel, the excitement of love, and the sense of camaraderie that comes with the shared experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Clang, clang, clang" went the trolley
The trolley made a loud ringing noise as it moved down the track.
"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
A bell on the trolley rang out loudly to alert pedestrians.
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
My heartstrings, or emotions, were stirred when I saw him.
For the moment I saw him I fell
I fell in love with him at first sight.
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
The motor of the trolley made a chugging sound as it moved forward.
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
The brake made a loud bumping noise as the trolley came to a stop.
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
My heartstrings, or emotions, were stirred once again when he smiled at me.
When he smiled, I could feel the car shake
I was so taken with his smile that it felt like the trolley was shaking.
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He was a gentleman and tipped his hat to me before sitting down on the trolley.
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He apologized politely and hoped he hadn't accidentally stepped on my feet.
He asked my name I held my breath
I was so nervous when he asked my name that I couldn't even breathe.
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
I was so nervous around him that I couldn't speak.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz" went the buzzer
The buzzer went off to signal that the trolley was stopping.
"Plop, plop, plop" went the wheels
The wheels of the trolley made a plopping noise as they hit the tracks.
"Stop, stop, stop" went my heartstrings
My heartstrings, or emotions, were stirred again as he prepared to leave the trolley.
As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
I didn't want him to leave and so I grabbed hold of his sleeve to keep him there.
And as if it were planned
It seemed like it was fate that he stayed with me on the trolley.
He stayed on with me and it was grand
I was thrilled that he decided to stay with me on the trolley.
Just to stand with his hand holding mine
I was overjoyed to stand next to him with our hands intertwined.
All the way to the end of the line
We rode the trolley all the way to the end of its route together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind