Benjamin Francis Webster (Kansas City, Missouri, USA, March 27, 1909 – Amst… Read Full Bio ↴Benjamin Francis Webster (Kansas City, Missouri, USA, March 27, 1909 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 20, 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist.

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).

Honeysuckle Rose
Ben Webster Lyrics

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Every honey bee fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose

When you're passin' by, flowers droop and sigh
And I know the reason why
Goodness knows

You're my honeysuckle rose

Don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
It's sweeter when you stir it up

When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose

Don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
It's sweeter when you stir it up.

When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips

Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose

Overall Meaning

The opening line of Ben Webster's "Honeysuckle Rose" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as he compares his lover to a honeysuckle rose, coveted by every bee with its sweet nectar. The lyrics speak about how everyone is envious of the singer's relationship with the person he is addressing - the flowers droop and sigh when she passes, and even the bees are jealous of what the singer has with her. The refrain "Goodness knows, you're my honeysuckle rose" reinforces the idea that she is the sweetest, most desirable thing in his life - like a rose that everyone wants, but only he can have.

The second half of the song is devoted to describing the sweetness that their relationship brings - the "sugar" that doesn't need to be bought, but is present when they are together. The singer notes that even taking a sip from her "tasty lips" is like drinking dripping honey, further emphasizing the idea that their love is like a sweet, delicious nectar that cannot be matched. The refrain is repeated again, driving home the point that this person is the center of the singer's world.

Overall, the lyrics to "Honeysuckle Rose" are a lovesick ode to a person who is sweet and desirable - like a honeysuckle rose. The verses are filled with images of sweet nectar and jealousy, while the refrain speaks to the singer's overwhelming love and devotion.

Line by Line Meaning

Every honey bee fills with jealousy
Even the bees are envious of how sweet and charming you are

When they see you out with me
They get jealous when they see how lucky I am to be with you

Goodness knows
It's undeniable that

You're my honeysuckle rose
You're my beautiful and sweet companion

When you're passin' by, flowers droop and sigh
Even the flowers are in awe of your beauty and charm

And I know the reason why
And I understand completely

Don't buy sugar
I don't need any other sweetness

You just have to touch my cup
Your presence is enough to make life sweeter

You're my sugar
You're the only sweetness I need

It's sweeter when you stir it up
Things are even better when you're around to liven them up

When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
When we're together and I'm kissing you

Seems the honey fairly drips
Everything about you is sweet and wonderful

Goodness knows
It's undeniable that

You're my honeysuckle rose
You're my beautiful and sweet companion

Goodness knows
It's undeniable that

You're my honeysuckle rose
You're my beautiful and sweet companion

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Thomas Waller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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