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.
Don't Blame Me
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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I've hung around you just like a fool
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
But it's too late now to call a halt
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
I like every single thing about you
Without a doubt you are like a dream
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
Ever since the hour of our meeting
I've been repeating a silly phrase
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
The song "Don't Blame Me" by Benny Goodman is a love song that conveys the feeling of falling head over heels for someone and being unable to control one's emotions. The lyrics speak to the idea of being under someone's spell, unable to resist their charms, and thus not wanting to be held accountable for falling in love. The singer of the song knows that their heart is in an "awful state" but they cannot call a halt to their feelings. They hope that the person they have fallen for will understand and reciprocate their love.
The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery that adds to the emotional depth of the song. The line "My poor heart is in an awful state now" conveys the singer's vulnerability and the sense of being overwhelmed by their feelings. The simile "like a kid out of school" heightens the sense of youthful and innocent love. The use of the phrase "under your spell" suggests a sense of enchantment, as if the person they love has cast a magical spell on them. The line "Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be" underscores the idea that the singer is not in control of their emotions, as if the mere sweetness of a kiss could cause them to fall deeply in love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don't Blame Me" capture the sense of being completely captivated by someone and being unable to resist their allure. The song has become a classic love ballad, with its timeless lyrics and nostalgic melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the lucky night I found you
From the moment I found you, I've been completely enamored with you.
I've hung around you just like a fool
I've been waiting around for you and making a fool of myself trying to get your attention.
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
I've fallen deeply in love with you like a child experiencing love for the first time.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is in terrible shape now after falling for you.
But it's too late now to call a halt
But it's too late to turn back now, my feelings for you are already too strong.
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
So if I become bothersome or clingy, it's because of you and your effect on me.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I can't help the way I feel about you, don't blame me for falling in love with you.
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
You have a powerful effect on me, I'm under your spell and can't help how I feel.
Don't' blame me!
Don't hold me responsible for the strong emotions I have for you.
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
Can't you see that your actions and behaviors towards me are causing me to have these feelings?
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
If I can't hide the excitement and joy I feel when I'm around you,
Don't blame; me.
Don't blame me for feeling this way, it's not something I can control.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
I can't help it if the moon above us is making me feel even more in love with you.
Makes me need someone like you to love!
The moon is making me crave someone to love, and it happens to be you.
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
Blame the fact that you're an amazing kisser and it makes it hard for me to think straight.
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
And blame all the things about you that make me melt when I'm holding you.
But don't blame me.
But don't blame me for falling so hard for you.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind