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.
Careless Love
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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You've fly through my head like wine
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You've made me break a many true vow
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness bereft
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now, it's too late
You've made me throw my old friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day, I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The lyrics of Benny Goodman's song "Careless Love" express the anguish and regret caused by a love that has been reckless and destructive. The singer addresses love directly, personifying it as a force that has consumed their thoughts like wine, wrecked the lives of many unfortunate girls, and almost ruined their own life. The lyrics convey a sense of betrayal, as love has made the singer break true vows and set their soul on fire.
The song continues to describe how love has stripped away all happiness, filling the heart with weariness and old blues. The singer finds themselves walking and talking to themselves, consumed by the pain caused by love's careless nature. The lyrics convey a feeling of resignation and a deep sense of regret for trusting love too late. Love has made the singer abandon old friends and brought the wrong person into their life, leading them to sing a song of hate.
Overall, the lyrics portray a sense of heartbreak, disillusionment, and the consequences of allowing oneself to be consumed by a reckless and unfaithful love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Love, the unpredictable and thoughtless emotion
You've fly through my head like wine
You've intoxicated my thoughts like a strong drink
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
You've destroyed the happiness of numerous unfortunate women
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
And you almost ruined my own existence
In your clutches of desire
In your grasp of passionate longing
You've made me break a many true vow
You've caused me to violate many sincere promises
Then you set my very soul on fire
Then you ignited the flames within my very being
All my happiness bereft
Devoid of any joy or contentment
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
You've overwhelmed my heart with aching and sorrowful emotions
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Now I find myself wandering and conversing with my own thoughts
Trusted you now, it's too late
I placed my trust in you, but now it is irreparable
You've made me throw my old friend down
You've influenced me to abandon a loyal companion
That's why I sing this song of hate
That is the reason behind my vehement expression of animosity
Night and day, I weep and moan
Throughout the day and into the night, I cry and lament
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
You introduced the incorrect person into my existence
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
As a consequence of my wrongdoings, I will repent until judgment is passed upon me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANGELO BADALAMENTI, JOHN MAYBURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind