Although the album was intended as an experiment (Columbia president Goddard Lieberson was willing to chance releasing it) and received negative reviews by critics upon its release, it became one of the best-known and biggest-selling jazz albums, reaching number two in the U.S. Billboard "Pop Albums" chart, and produced one single — Paul Desmond's "Take Five" — that reached number five in the Billboard "Adult Contemporary" chart.
In 2005, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.
Blue Rondo a La Turk
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a harmony
Round, round, round a melody,
Harmony, melody-steadily
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a memory
Round, round, round a melody,
Memory, melody, merrily.
There's a melody I used to play
Counterpoint every yesterday.
Swiftly up and down I hasten and
Chasten my fingers and heart to play.
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a memory
Round, round, round a melody
Memory, harmony-steadily
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a mystery
Round, round, round a melody,
Mystery, mirror of history.
Taking over all my reveries
Hearing passions in the melodies
Play it up and down so wearily
Stumbling, fumbling, tumbling.
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a harmony
Round, round, round a melody
Harmony, melody, memory
Round, round town I follow you.
Round, round town I'm calling you.
Round, round town I hasten to do
All the chasing you want me to.
Open up an opportunity,
For I know that you will be
Truly happy and content with me.
Measure me, treasure me, pleasure me.
Open up an opportunity.
Open up an offer. You will be
Truly happy and content with me.
Measure me, treasure me, pleasure me.
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a you and me.
Round, round, round a melody
You and me, melody and harmony.
Round, round, round a melody
Round, round, round a harmony
Round, round, round a melody,
Harmony, mystery-you and me.
Don't you see
That we were meant to be,
One and the same.
Melody, married to harmony,
One and the same.
Change the score
We will be ever more
One and the same.
Melody, married to harmony
One and the same.
Here it comes, our symphony,
Measure by measure.
A melody and harmony,
You and me in harmony.
You and me so happy
Were making it
Shaking the blues ain't bothering me.
Here it comes, our symphony,
Measure by measure,
A pleasure.
A melody and harmony,
You and me in harmony
You and me so happy
We found a new rondo,
To end the blue rondo today.
"Blue Rondo à la Turk" was written and recorded by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck for his 1959 album "Time Out". The song is influenced by Turkish rhythms and features a combination of 9/8 and 4/4 time signatures, giving it a distinctive and complex feel.
The song's lyrics describe the experience of a musician playing a melody, exploring its harmonies, and getting lost in the music. The repetition of the phrase "round, round, round" creates a sense of circular motion, reflecting the cyclical nature of the music. The lyrics go on to suggest a romantic relationship between the musician and the melody, with lines like "Don't you see that we were meant to be, melody married to harmony, one and the same."
Line by Line Meaning
Round, round, round a melody
The repetition of a melody that persists throughout the piece.
Round, round, round a harmony
The repetition of a harmony that accompanies the melody.
Round, round, round a memory
A nostalgic reference to a melody played in the past.
Harmony, melody-steadily
The consistent interaction between the melody and harmony.
Memory, melody, merrily.
A joyful recollection of playing the melody.
There's a melody I used to play
A reminiscence of a particular melody previously played.
Counterpoint every yesterday.
A musical term that describes the combination of a melody with a secondary melody played simultaneously.
Swiftly up and down I hasten and
Playing the melody quickly and dynamically.
Chasten my fingers and heart to play.
The discipline and training required to play the melody skillfully.
Memory, harmony-steadily
The consistent interaction between the memory of the melody and the accompanying harmony.
Round, round, round a mystery
The ambiguity and intrigue of a particular melody.
Mystery, mirror of history.
The reflective nature of a mystery-filled melody on historical events.
Taking over all my reveries
The dominance of the melody in the subconscious thoughts and musings.
Hearing passions in the melodies
The emotional and passionate elements that can be elicited from playing or listening to melodies.
Play it up and down so wearily
Playing the melody with weariness and exhaustion.
Stumbling, fumbling, tumbling.
The struggle and clumsiness associated with learning to play a melody.
Open up an opportunity,
Asking for a chance to improve and grow musically.
For I know that you will be
Expressing confidence that the opportunity will produce positive results.
Truly happy and content with me.
A musical relationship that brings joy and fulfillment.
Measure me, treasure me, pleasure me.
The desire for growth, appreciation, and enjoyment in a musical partnership.
Round, round town I follow you.
Following the guidance of a musical partner.
Round, round town I'm calling you.
Continuing to communicate and collaborate with the partner musically.
Round, round town I hasten to do
Quickly and eagerly responding to the partner's input and suggestions.
All the chasing you want me to.
Accepting the pursuit of musical perfection and excellence led by the partner.
Open up an offer. You will be
Requesting another opportunity for musical communication and collaboration.
Round, round, round a you and me.
The combined efforts of two musicians working together as one.
Don't you see
A plea for the partner to see the potential in the collaboration.
That we were meant to be,
A belief that the musical partnership is meant to be.
One and the same.
Two musicians united in a shared musical vision and purpose.
Change the score
The desire for something different or new in the musical collaboration.
We will be ever more
The belief that the musical partnership will continue to grow and evolve.
We found a new rondo,
The discovery of a new direction or style in the musical collaboration.
To end the blue rondo today.
The completion of the previous style or phase of the musical partnership.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dave Brubeck
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind