Lush Life :: Linda

A song that is often referred to as "Music for Musicians."

This 12 tone piece composed by Billy Strayhorn is included in the repertoire of every serious jazz musician.

Made famous in the Middle of the last century by John Coltrane, it has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Henderson, Johnny Hartman, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole and many more.

Also recorded by pop artists:
Donna Summer
Queen Latifah



#2 Most Discussed (Today) Jazz
#5 Most Viewed (Today) Jazz


Lush Life Lyrics:

I used to visit all the very gay places
Those come what may places
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
To get a feel of life from jazz and cocktails.

All the men I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
With distingue traces
That used to be there you could see where
They'd been washed away by too many through the day
Twelve o'clock tails.

Then you came along with your siren song
To tempt me to madness
I thought for a while that your poignant smile
Was tinged with the sadness of a great love for me.

Oh yes. I was wrong
Again I was wrong.

Now Life is Lonely Again
And Only Last Year
Everything Seemed SO SURE.

Now Life is Awful Again
A trough full of hearts
could only be a bore.

A week in Paris could ease the bite of it.
But all I care is to smile in spite of it.

I'll forget you. I will,
While yet you are still burning inside my brain.

Romance is mush,
Stifling those who strive.

I'l live a LUSH LIFE in some small dive.
And there I'll be while I rot with the rest
Of those whose Lives are Lonely too.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jazz
• vocals
• Linda
• Matos
• Sistalinda
• Billy
• Strayhorn
• natural
• hair
• lushlife

[singingsiren2007]

lovely ! This is one of my favorite songs! Hope all is well!

[sistalinda]

@singingsiren2007 Nice to hear from you. All is well indeed. You singing in NY much?

[lacagel]

Hi Linda. According to a columnist of a portuguese newspaper, yours is one of the best renditions of this song (better than Sinatra!). Congrats:)

[sistalinda]

@lacagel That's astonishing. Thanks so much for that amazing information. Do you recall who the columnist is or in what paper he writes?

[REBrandenburg]

You're inside this song. Beautiful.

[sistalinda]

@REBrandenburg  Yes. Yes.

[gatske]

I dont think she has a sad face, She has a lovely face!! But this is a sad song so one can't laugh when ons sings it.

And her voice......is like: HEAVEN!!!!:)

She is a very good and great jazz singer!!!

Keep it up girl!!! I love your voice and interpretation on this song!!! Its perfect!!! so what jazz is all about!!

Love from Holland xxx Patty de Gooijer

[cartiergl]

Missing you a lil bit Linda,,had to come by and remind myself,,,,,(smiles)

[mecca777]

next to A Love Supreme, my favorite jazz song of all time......you sang the hell out of it!!!! Madd props!!!!

[leevum1]

@Thespa77- regardless, this was an incredibly beautiful interpretation of the song. What a voice!!!!!

[jayantindulge]

Wow, beautiful!! BRAVO!!!

[thespa77]

According to my long time friend and jazz bassist: "Lush Life is not a 12-tone piece. It may use all 12 tones of the chromatic scale, but is still a tonal composition in every respect."

[thespa77]

Wonderful, Linda!!

[lacagel]

@lacagel Sure, his name is Miguel Esteves Cardoso, and the newspaper is called "Público". In case you`re unable to find a proper translation, i`ll try to give you a link, and translate it.