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).
Prisoner Of Love
Ben Webster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doesn't belong to me
Someone who can't be faithful
Knows that I have to be
Wonder if I am wrong to give her my loyalty
Why should I be a lone soul
Why can't I be my own soul
Too weak to break the chains that bind me
I need no shackles to remind me
I'm just a prisner of love
For one comand I stand and wait now
From one who's master of my Fate now
I can't escape for it's too late now
I'm just a prisoner of love
What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing
Those arms with me
Although she has another
I can't have another
For I'm not free
She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
Up on my knees to her I'm creeping
My very life is in her keeping
I'm just a prisoner of love.
Love.
The lyrics of Ben Webster's song "Prisoner of Love" describe a situation where the singer is in love with someone who cannot reciprocate their feelings. The song is about unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The singer feels he must remain faithful to the person he loves, even though she has someone else. He wonders whether he is wrong to remain loyal to her. The lyrics suggest that he is trapped in this situation and cannot escape, even though it causes him great pain. He is a prisoner of love.
The lyrics also convey a sense of hopelessness, as the singer feels he cannot be his own person and must instead wait for the object of his affection to acknowledge him. He is weak and feels unable to break free from the chains that bind him. He has surrendered himself to this love, even though it is unattainable. The lyrics suggest that he is resigned to his fate, even though it causes him great sadness.
Overall, the song is a moving portrayal of the pain of unrequited love and the sense of helplessness that comes with it. The lyrics are beautifully written and convey a deep sense of emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone that I belong to
I am in love with someone who I feel I am deeply connected to
Doesn't belong to me
however, this person does not feel the same way towards me
Someone who can't be faithful
despite this person's inability to commit
Knows that I have to be
I feel a strong sense of loyalty towards them
Wonder if I am wrong to give her my loyalty
I question whether my devotion to this person is justified
Why should I be a lone soul
I wonder why I must feel so alone in my love
Why can't I be my own soul
I long for independence, yet I am consumed by my love for this person
Alone from night to night you'll find me
I spend my nights in solitary torment
Too weak to break the chains that bind me
I am unable to break free from the hold this person has over me
I need no shackles to remind me
I am acutely aware of the power this person holds over me without any tangible restraints
I'm just a prisoner of love
I am helpless in my love for this person
For one command I stand and wait now
I am at this person's beck and call, no matter the request
From one who's master of my Fate now
I have relinquished control over my own destiny to this person
I can't escape for it's too late now
I am unable to break free from their control
What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing
What is the point of my love if this person is also sharing their affections with another?
Those arms with me
Being with me physically
Although she has another
even though this person has another lover
I can't have another
I can't bring myself to be with anyone else because of my devotion to them
For I'm not free
I am trapped in this love
She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
I dream of this person constantly, whether I am asleep or awake
Up on my knees to her I'm creeping
I will beg and plead to be with this person
My very life is in her keeping
I have put my very life into their hands
I'm just a prisoner of love.
I am powerless in the face of my love for this person, much like a prisoner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing
Written by: ENRIQUE ELIAS GARCIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phil Pryor
What a wonder, this beauty of a song in the fingers of masters of the tenor saxophone. The eternal beauty of art in music can't be bettered here, as we have tone, technique, taste, subtle time and tremendous interpretation all wrapped and sealed here. Tops.
Nick Dellow
There isn't one word I could add, nor one I would want to take away, from your excellent summing up of one of my favourite tracks of all time
Butch Alano
with this line up,you could never go wrong.....AWSOME!
Mehmet Numan INAL
Fabulous performance of Mr. Coleman Hawkins... Solid as a rock... But my info says; the track recorded October 16, 1957 in L.A.
Tibor Farkas
Heavenly sounds
OSCAR LUIS FEMOPASE
CUANTA HERMOSURA DE SONIDOS TIENEN ESTOS DOS REYES DEL JAZZ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡¡
Anne DeVere Harper
sweet tune and nice interpretation!
Leonardo Squirtavio Ottavo
Prigioniero dell'amore. 💘 Stanotte ancora di più ❤️🍾🥂
lam ino
One is wrapped up in the warmth of this sound
Vladimir Borodkin
Coleman is blessed!