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 Get Around Much Anymore
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you
Don't get around much anymore
Though I'd visit the club
Got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you
Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
But nevertheless why stir up memories?
Been invited on dates
Might have gone but what for?
Awf'lly diff'rent without you
Don't get around much anymore
The song "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by Benny Goodman is a melancholic and nostalgic song. It talks about how the singer has missed the Saturday dance, but heard that the floor was crowded without them. They couldn't bear the thought of being there without their loved one, so they didn't go. Even though they'd considered visiting the club, they knew that they'd be asked about the one they miss, so they didn't bother. The singer's mind is more at ease now without their loved one, but they still find themselves dwelling on the past and the memories they had.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are poetic and poignant. They evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia that are relatable to anyone who has lost a loved one. The song is a reminder that even when we move on from someone, they still occupy an important place in our hearts and minds.
Line by Line Meaning
Missed the Saturday dance
I didn't go to the Saturday dance
Heard they crowded the floor
I heard that many people came to the dance and filled up the dance floor
Couldn't bear it without you
I couldn't stand being there without you
Don't get around much anymore
I don't go out as often as I used to
Though I'd visit the club
I thought about going to the club
Got as far as the door
But I only made it to the entrance
They'd have asked me about you
I knew people would ask me about you if I went in
Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
I feel more relaxed now, my mind is at ease
But nevertheless why stir up memories?
But there's no need to bring up old memories, it's not worth it
Been invited on dates
I received invitations for dates
Might have gone but what for?
I thought about accepting, but what would be the point?
Awf'lly diff'rent without you
It's really different without you
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind