Ben Webster, a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog", was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. Known affectionately as "The Brute", he had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls), yet on ballads he played with warmth and sentiment. Stylistically he was also indebted to alto star Johnny Hodges, who, he said, taught him to play his instrument.
Webster learned to play piano and violin at an early age, before learning to play the saxophone. Once Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster began to play that instrument in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). Webster spent time with quite a few orchestras in the 1930s (including Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson in 1934, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Cab Calloway, and the short-lived Teddy Wilson big band).
In 1940 Ben Webster became the first major tenor soloist of Duke Ellington's orchestra. During the next three years he was on many famous recordings, including "Cotton Tail" and "All Too Soon." After three productive years of playing with Ellington, Webster left the band in an angry altercation, during which he cut up one of Ellington's suits. After leaving Ellington in 1943, Webster worked on 52nd Street in New York City; recorded frequently as both a leader and a sideman; had short periods with Raymond Scott, John Kirby, and Sid Catlett; and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic during several seasons in the 1950s.
Webster recorded a classic set with pianist Art Tatum and generally worked steadily, but in 1964 he moved permanently to join other American jazz musicians in Copenhagen, Denmark where he played when he pleased during his last decade. Although not all that flexible, Webster could swing with the best, and his tone was a later influence on such diverse players as Archie Shepp, Lew Tabackin, Scott Hamilton, David Murray, and Bennie Wallace. In 1971 Webster reunited with Duke Ellington and his big band for a couple of shows at the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark
Ben Webster died in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1973 and was interred in the Assistens Kirkegård in the Nørrebro section of Copenhagen.
After Webster's death, Billy Moore Jr. created The Ben Webster Foundation, together with the trustee of Webster's estate. Since Webster's only legal heir, Harley Robinson in Los Angeles, gladly assigned his rights to the foundation, The Ben Webster Foundation was confirmed by The Queen of Denmark's Seal in 1976. In the Foundation's trust deed, one of the initial paragraphs reads: "to support the dissemination of jazz in Denmark".
It is a beneficial Foundation, which channels Webster's annual royalties to musicians, both in Denmark and the U.S. An annual Ben Webster Prize is awarded to a young outstanding musician. The prize is not large, but considered highly prestigious. Over the years, several American musicians have visited Denmark with the help of the Foundation, and concerts, a few recordings, and other jazz-related events have been supported.
Webster's private collection of jazz recordings and memorabilia is archived in the jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Ben Webster has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Ben Websters Vej" (Ben Webster's Street).
After You've Gone
Ben Webster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
The song "After You've Gone" by Ben Webster is a classic ballad about heartbreak and regret. The lyrics are a plea from the singer to his departing lover, asking her not to break his heart and to think about the consequences of leaving him. The song is filled with emotion, as the singer describes the pain he will feel after his lover has gone and warns her that she will eventually regret her decision.
The lyrics detail the sadness and loneliness the singer will feel after his lover leaves, and they suggest that his pain will eventually be mirrored by his lover. The song is a classic example of the blues, with its focus on heartbreak, loss, and regret. The singer speaks directly to his departing lover, urging her to reconsider and warning her of the consequences of her actions.
Overall, "After You've Gone" is a powerful and evocative song, filled with emotion and passion. It speaks directly to the heart of anyone who has experienced heartbreak, and its message of regret and loss is one that resonates with listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Listen carefully, my love, to what I am about to say.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you have to tell me, my love, that you're leaving me?
Don't say that we must part,
Please don't say that we need to break up,
Don't break your baby's heart
Don't hurt me, the one who loves you so deeply
You know I've loved you for these many years,
I have loved you for a long time,
Loved you night and day,
Loved you every moment,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Can't you see the sorrow in my eyes, my love?
Listen while I say
Please pay attention to my words
After you've gone and left me cryin',
Once you've left me alone and in tears,
After you've gone there's no denyin',
It's undeniable that after you've gone,
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You will feel sad and down,
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You will miss the closest friend you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
Remember, there will be a time in the future
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
When you will regret leaving me
Someday, when you grow lonely
In the future, when you feel alone
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
You will feel the same heartbreak as me and will only want me
After you've gone, after you've gone away
Once you've left me, once you've gone away
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're going to feel down and unhappy
You're gonna feel bad
You'll feel remorseful and regretful
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
You'll long for and miss
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
You will miss the best friend you ever had
But baby, think what you're doin'
My love, please think about what you're doing
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I will make you think of me, I will torment you
It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will lead you to your downfall
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you've left me, once you've gone away
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind