Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."
Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a non - pariel virtuoso clarinetist and -along with only Artie Shaw, amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him ] in the Autumn of 1936. He then added Lionel Hampton on vibes in December, 1936, and in the early Summer of 1939 he augmented the famous "quartette" with pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws." By the mid- Summer of 1941, Benny had hired the incomparably rhythmic and show-man drummer, legendary "Big Sid" Catlett, the (later) famous John Simmons on bass, and still possessed the incomparable Charlie Christian on electric guitar -plus Cootie Williams was in the middle of his one-year contract... This amounted to virtually one-quarter of the orchestra of black heritage, but of course -following Jimmy Munday and Fletcher Henderson (who also joined the band as pianist for 6 months in July, 1939) it was really an orchestrated white extension of black big band jazz -only, curiously -better.
After You
Benny Goodman 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 lyrics to Benny Goodman's song "After You've Gone" speak to the heartache of a lover who has just been left by their significant other. The singer is imploring their partner not to leave, begging them not to break their heart. They highlight the depth of their love and the pain that they are currently feeling, noting that even though they've loved their partner for years, they can't bear the thought of them leaving.
As the song continues, the singer warns their partner that they will regret leaving, that someday they will feel just as heartbroken and alone as the singer currently does. The lyrics convey a sense of despair and helplessness, with the singer convinced that their partner is making a grave mistake by leaving them. They end by warning their partner that they will "haunt" and "taunt" them, suggesting a level of bitterness and resentment at being left behind.
Overall, the lyrics to "After You've Gone" speak to the universal experience of heartbreak and the pain of losing someone you love. The song captures the raw emotions that come with being left behind and the fear that the one you love might never come back. It is a poignant reminder that love can cut deep and leave lasting scars, even when it ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Please pay attention to me, my dear.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you inform me that you're leaving?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't announce that we need to separate.
Don't break your baby's heart
Please don't shatter your lover's heart.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
I have loved you for a long time.
Loved you night and day,
I have loved you all my life.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
My love, can't you see my tears?
Listen while I say
Pay attention to me for a moment.
After you've gone and left me cryin'
Once you've gone and left me in tears.
After you've gone there's no denyin'
There's no doubt that once you've gone.
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You will feel unhappy and sorrowful.
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You will long for the closest friend you've ever had.
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
A time will come, remember what I say.
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll regret what you have done someday.
Someday, when you grow lonely
One day, when you feel alone.
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Your heart will shatter like mine, and you'll only want me.
You're gonna feel bad
You will feel terrible.
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
And you will long for your best friend.
But baby, think what you're doin'
Please think about what you're doing, my love.
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I will haunt and taunt you.
It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will destroy you.
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you've left and are gone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-xt3cd6dj3k
Excelente música 👌🎼 y lo bueno es que tiene su sonido original sin mezclas 😊 bravo
@donnyrichard4644
What can you say? This is the very best by the very best. Absolutely incredible performance.
@carlrichards49
Right on. It's classic, unsurpassable. Period.
@icarus67
Yo tengo este disco, en el clarinete esta Benny Goodman, piano Teddy Wilson y en la bateria Morey Feld, no se de que año sea, pero es de Columbia Co 34266, saludos
@helluvagun
A lovely trio performing this timeless Henry Creamer and Turner Layton song, must have been really something to listen to back then (;
@Roggiedodgie
I used to crack up about how my Dad would say this was the thing when he was young. But now that I'm listening to it for the FIRST time, I have to say, it's pretty awesome. And that's coming from a 70's and 80's hard rock fan. ha ha ha wow
@toonman361
Riiiiight... me too. I just discovered 1920s-30s jazz at 60. I grew up listening to the big band, swing stuff. Now I'm listening to even earlier stuff. Just awesome.
@roughcutguitars
I long ago realized when it swings, it swings be it Benny or Thin Lizzy.
@joehamilton4656
It was Benny Goodman, who popularised the clarinet.
@jakestilson1947
Goodman making musical magic, as usual.