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).
I Surrender Dear
Ben Webster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sworn enemy of love
Kept my lips from saying
Things I was thinking of.
But now my pride you've humbled,
I've cast it to the winds,
Broken, beaten, sick at heart
My confession begins.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear and shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
I surrender, dear.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear And shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
The lyrics of "I Surrender Dear" are about a person who was too prideful to confess their love to someone. They claim that their pride has been their sworn enemy of love and has kept them from saying what they were really thinking. However, their pride has been humbled, and they have cast it away to make their confession of love. The first stanza speaks of being broken, beaten, and sick at heart, emphasizing the deep sadness and vulnerability the singer feels. The lyrics suggest that the person they are confessing their love to has been playing a game of "stay away" with them, causing the singer to suffer emotionally. The second stanza talks about the singer's façade of pride and carefree attitude being just a pose, with their true feelings for the other person residing deep in their heart. They acknowledge that the petty things they did to each other were part of the game of wooing, but they don't care who's to blame. The final stanza speaks of stars appearing and shadows falling, and the singer's heart calling out to their love. They declare that they surrender all to the person they love and that they are their life and all.
Line by Line Meaning
Pride, sad, splendid liar,
My pride is a melancholic and marvelous deceiver
Sworn enemy of love
My pride is the antithesis of love
Kept my lips from saying Things I was thinking of.
My pride prevented me from expressing my true thoughts and feelings.
But now my pride you've humbled,
You have reduced my pride and made me feel humble.
I've cast it to the winds,
I have discarded my pride.
Broken, beaten, sick at heart My confession begins.
Feeling defeated and heartbroken, I am ready to confess my love.
We've played the game of stay away But it cost more that I can pay.
Our game of keeping distance has come at a greater cost than I am willing to bear.
Without you I can't make my way,
I cannot navigate life without you by my side.
I surrender, dear.
I give up and submit myself to you, my dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
I may come across as arrogant and joyful.
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
My outward demeanor is a façade.
'Cause deep down in my heart I say I surrender, dear.
Deep down, I know that I have given in and surrendered to you.
Little mean things we were doing Must have been part of the game,
The hurtful actions we took were likely part of our game of love.
Lending a spice to the wooing, But I don't care who's to blame.
Those actions made our love more exciting, but I am not interested in finding who is at fault.
When stars appear And shadows fall,
During the night when stars come out and shadows are cast.
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
At that moment, you will hear the cries of my suffering heart.
To you my love, my life, my all I surrender, dear.
I give myself entirely to you, my love and my life.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: GORDON CLIFFORD, HARRY BARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AMT
Absolutely stunning!!
AMT
What a treat! Thank you so much!