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.
Goodnight
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending
It was so heavenly, holding you, close to me
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow
Till then my love, how dreary the new day will seem
So for the present, dear, we'll have to part
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight, my love
Goodnight my love, your mommy is kneeling beside you
Goodnight my love, to dreamland the sandman will guide you
Come now you sleepyhead, close your eyes, and go to bed
My precious sleepyhead, you mustn't play peek-a-boo
Goodnight my love, your little Dutch dolly is yawning
Goodnight my love, your teddy bear called it a day
Your doggy's fast asleep, my but he's smart
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight my love
The song "Goodnight" by Benny Goodman is a beautiful melody about saying goodbye to someone who is cherished. The first verse talks about bidding farewell to a loved one as the moon sets, and how wonderful it was to be with them. The singer reminisces about the blissful feeling of being close to their partner, and how they hope to hold them again in a dream. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, as they speak to the promise of meeting again under the stars the next day. However, the singer acknowledges how difficult it will be to face the day without their loved one.
The second verse is directed to a sleeping child, as the singer bids them goodnight and encourages them to go to sleep. The words convey a sense of tenderness and affection, as the singer guides the child towards slumber. The lyrics make use of comforting imagery, like a Dutch dolly and a teddy bear, to create a safe and secure environment for the child. The song ends with a message of love and a reminder that the singer's partner and child are both cherished and deeply loved. Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and the power of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending
Saying goodbye to the one he loves as the moon sets and night comes to an end.
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending
He wishes the one he loves a good night as their time together comes to a close.
It was so heavenly, holding you, close to me
The act of being close to the one he loves is heavenly and perfect.
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream
He wishes that he could dream of holding his love as it would be a heavenly experience.
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow
He looks forward to another day with his love and believes that the stars will keep their promise of shining upon them.
Till then my love, how dreary the new day will seem
He feels that the new day will be dull and boring without the one he loves by his side.
So for the present, dear, we'll have to part
They must say goodbye for the time being.
Sleep tight, my love, goodnight, my love
He wishes the one he loves a good night's sleep.
Remember that you're mine sweetheart
He reminds the one he loves that he belongs to him.
Goodnight my love, your mommy is kneeling beside you
He wishes the one he loves a good night as their mother tucks them in bed.
Goodnight my love, to dreamland the sandman will guide you
He wishes the one he loves a peaceful sleep as they drift off to dreamland.
Come now you sleepyhead, close your eyes, and go to bed
He encourages the one he loves to go to bed and rest.
My precious sleepyhead, you mustn't play peek-a-boo
He tells the one he loves not to stay up late playing games and to go to sleep.
Goodnight my love, your little Dutch dolly is yawning
He wishes the one he loves a good night as their toy doll yawns beside them.
Goodnight my love, your teddy bear called it a day
He wishes the one he loves a good night as their teddy bear goes to sleep.
Your doggy's fast asleep, my but he's smart
The person's dog is already asleep and he mentions how intelligent he is.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP
Written by: Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@achlys517
Lyrics
"Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending,
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending.
It was so heavenly, holding you close to me,
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream,
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow,
Til then, my love, how dreary the new day will seem,
So for the present dear, we'll have to part,
Sleep tight my love, goodnight my love,
Remember that you're my sweetheart".
@fabiolavillanueva8582
Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending,
Goodnight my love, my moment with you now is ending.
It was so heavenly, holding you close to me,
It will be heavenly to hold you again in a dream,
The stars above have promised to meet us tomorrow,
Til then, my love, how dreary the new day will seem,
So for the present dear, we'll have to part,
Sleep tight my love, goodnight my love,
Remember that you're my sweetheart.
@fdobbs37
Good episode of The Sopranos, and a great closing credits tune Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman two giants. It doesn't get any better
@uurty.
LMAO just came here after watching this episode rn
@Jean-Louis-Laylle
A magnificent song, with a very complete combination: the King of the Swing and his orchestra, with the precious voice of a very youngster Ella Fitzgerald. Definitively an awesome song.
@Ibraheem224
I wouldn’t change a thing about this song, it’s so perfect and I am going to make it the official lullaby for my kids
@thebeatnumber
I thought music was supposed to be haram for followers of the illiterate child rapist prophet from Mecca.
@InuandKagomeForever
My parents used to sing this to me when I was little to get me to go to sleep. I love this song, and all of the memories that go with.
@ecb1979
I used to sing this to my children at night :) your parents had great taste
@Nowthisispodracing4
Erin Billingham I sing it to my kid too and he goes right to sleep
@djangokill65
I sing this to my kids as I tuck them in :)
@loretta164
My grandmother sang this song to me when I was 4 to sleep. Now I song this to my son who's two :)