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The Nearness Of You (Red Garland)

from Still The Birds (2016) by Darryl Purpose

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lyrics

The Nearness Of You (Red Garland)
purpose/zollo

Stars are working overtime, the full moon is on fire
Miles swings at taxis with a huckleberry briar
John Coltrane is laughing and Philly Joe is too
And Red Garland’s playing Stardust on a piano painted blue

Pack of Viceroys, orange peel, empty birdcage swinging
On any day in Harlem Lady Day just might be singing
Bird is playing crazy fast, his sax fresh out of hock
And Red’s at the piano like the inside of a clock

CHORUS:
And the sun is lemon soda But the bebop moon is blue
And Red Garland’s at the piano Play-ing the Nearness of You
Playing the Nearness of You

Born in Dallas Texas in the midst of prohibition
His daddy worked on elevators his mama on a mission
To educate her only son, to shine his only shoes
And Red’s at the piano discovering the blues

Fire engine, Hershey Bar, big radio bringing
Big band jazz from Hollywood, the sound of Ella singing.
Once he was a welterweight, a boxer in the ring
He got knocked out by Sugar Ray before he learned to swing

CHORUS:
And the sun is lemon soda But the bebop moon is blue
And Red Garland’s at the piano Play-ing the Nearness of You
Playing the Nearness of You

Instrumental Verse

So take your sorry mittens off and let your hands be chilly
With Bird and Fats Navarro at the Downbeat down in Philly
Miles said play sparse and quiet, like Ahmad Jamal
Ain’t no need for a riot, Red, leave your work boots in the hall

CHORUS:
And the sun is lemon soda But the bebop moon is blue
And Red Garland’s at the piano Play-ing the Nearness of You
Playing the Nearness of You

credits

from Still The Birds (2016), released May 6, 2016
Acoustic guitar - Billy Crockett
Acoustic bass - Roscoe Beck (Leonard Cohen)
Drums and percussion - Eric Darken (Jimmy buffet)
Electric Guitar - Daran DeShazo
Accordian - Joel Guzman (Paul Simon)

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Darryl Purpose Denver, Colorado

Darryl went to Las Vegas at 19 and became a professional blackjack player, which he still calls the 'only real job I've ever had'. He is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Since 1996, he has toured extensively and released 8 albums of original music.
Darryl's last two albums spent weeks at #1 on the RMR radio charts. Next Time Around and Still The Birds ... more

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