Ammons formed his own band in 1934, and in 1938 performed in the Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall, which among other achievements launched the boogie-woogie craze. He and two other performers at the concert, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson, became the leading boogie-woogie pianists of the day. The three worked together at Café Society and also toured and recorded as a trio.
His biggest hit was "Swanee River Boogie". Ammons played the melody of "Old Folks at Home" over a boogie woogie bass. The recording was used as a theme song by pioneer rhythm and blues disk jockey Gene Nobles on WLAC radion in the 1950s.
He worked steadily till his death in 1949; he played at Harry S. Truman's inauguration that year.
He is the father of tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons.
Ammons has had wide influence on countless pianists such as Dave Alexander, Dr. John, Hadda Brooks, Johnnie Johnson, Ray Bryant, Erroll Garner, Frank Muschalle, Katie Webster, Axel Zwingenberger, and another German pianist, Joerg Hegemann, who honoured Ammons on the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2007 with his album A Tribute To Albert Ammons.
Oh Lady Be Good
Albert Ammons Lyrics
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It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.
The lyrics of Albert Ammons's song "Oh, Lady Be Good" tell the story of a woman who is desperately searching for love and companionship in a big city. She's all dressed up with nowhere to go, feeling terribly sad and blue each evening. She longs to win the heart of a handsome man, someone who can help her blossom into the person she knows she can be. The repetition of the line "Lady be good to me" highlights her plea for help, highlighting her vulnerability and loneliness.
The verse "Oh please have some pity, I'm all alone in this big city / I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood" further emphasizes her isolation and need for human connection. She's lost in a big, anonymous city and is searching for someone to guide her and show her some kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to my tale of woe,
Please hear me out and listen to my sad story.
It's terribly sad but true,
What I'm about to tell you is very sad, but it's the truth.
All dressed up, no place to go
Despite looking my best, I have nowhere to go and nothing to do.
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
Every night, I feel sad and lonely.
I must win some handsome guy
I need to find a good-looking man.
Can't go on like this,
I can't continue living like this.
I could blossom out I know,
I have so much potential to grow and flourish.
With somebody just like you. So
If only I had someone like you to be with.
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, kind and beautiful woman, please be kind to me.
Oh, lady, be good to me
Please show me kindness and compassion.
I am so awfully misunderstood
People don't understand me or my situation.
So lady, be good to me
So please, show me kindness and compassion.
Oh, please have some pity
Please feel sorry for me and my situation.
I'm all alone in this big city
I am completely alone in this large and overwhelming city.
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
I'm like a helpless and vulnerable child lost in the forest.
So lady be good to me.
So, once again, please show me kindness and compassion.
Oh lady be good to me.
Please, oh kind lady, show me some mercy and compassion.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind