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.
When A Woman Loves A Man
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just another man doing what he can
What does she care
When a woman loves a man
She'll just string along
All through thick and thin till his ship comes in
It's always that way
She'll be the first one to praise him when he's going strong
The last one to blame him when everything is wrong
It's such a one sided game that they play
But women are funny that way
Tell her she's a fool
She'll say, "Yes I know but I love him so"
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
Tell her she's a fool
She'll say, "Yes I know but I love him so"
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
When Tony Bennett sings "Maybe he's not much," he is acknowledging that the man a woman loves may not have all the qualities that society deems as desirable, but when a woman loves a man, it doesn't matter, as long as he is doing his best. The woman's love for the man is unconditional, and while she might endure trials and tribulations with him until his "ship comes in," she will stick by him because that's what her love for him demands. The dynamics of the relationship may be one-sided, but love is often irrational and inexplicable, and women are especially vulnerable to its caprice. No matter how much someone tries to persuade her, if she loves him, she'll stick with him.
The woman portrayed here is willing to see the man's potential and willing to wait for him to achieve it. She is both his cheerleader and his support system, unflinchingly supportive even when he is wrong. She'll take the blame for him and be strong for him whenever he needs her. Regardless of the game they play or whether others tell her that she is making a mistake, she confidently states, "Yes I know but I love him so." It's a reminder that love is complex and almost never perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he's not much
The man she loves may not be perfect, but that's okay.
Just another man doing what he can
He's just an average guy, trying his best to make her happy.
What does she care
She doesn't care about his flaws, because she loves him anyway.
When a woman loves a man
Love overlooks imperfections and sees the best in someone.
She'll just string along
She'll stand by him through everything, no matter how difficult.
All through thick and thin till his ship comes in
She'll support him during good times and bad, until he achieves his goals.
It's always that way
This is how love works - it's unconditional and unwavering.
She'll be the first one to praise him when he's going strong
She'll celebrate his accomplishments and be his biggest cheerleader.
The last one to blame him when everything is wrong
She won't criticize or blame him when things go awry - she'll stand by him and offer support.
It's such a one sided game that they play
Love can be unfair, but that doesn't faze her - she's committed to making it work.
But women are funny that way
This might seem strange to outsiders, but it's simply how love works for her.
Tell her she's a fool
Others may not understand why she stays with him, but she knows what's best for her heart.
She'll say, "Yes I know but I love him so"
She's aware of the risks and potential heartbreak, but her love for him outweighs everything else.
And that's how it goes
This is how love works - it's unpredictable and doesn't always make sense, but it's worth it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Calvin Houston Lewis, Andrew James Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind