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.
He Ain’t Got Rhythm
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When he found the fourth dimension,
But he ain't got rhythm
So no-one's with 'im,
The loneliest man in town.
A lonely man is he,
His wife and family
Keep givin' him dirty looks;
'Cause he ain't got rhythm,
When they call him up it's to call him down.
With that daring aviator
He encircled the equator,
But he ain't got rhythm
So no-one's with 'im,
The loneliest man in town.
These lyrics tell the story of a man who has accomplished impressive feats such as discovering the fourth dimension and circled the equator with a daring aviator, but despite his achievements, he is alone and isolated because he lacks rhythm. The people around him don't want to be associated with him because he's not "cool" or "hip." His family also seems to look down on him because he doesn't fit into their ideal of what a successful and accepted person should be. The message behind the lyrics is that even if someone is intellectually accomplished, they can still feel disconnected from those around them if they don't possess some level of social skills like rhythm.
The repeated phrase of "he ain't got rhythm" is a metaphor for his inability to connect with others on a deeper emotional level. The song is a commentary on how society values certain traits, and those who don't meet these standards are often left out of the social circle. The lyrics also suggest that it's hard for someone who is different to find acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
He attracted some attention
He caught people's eye as he showcased his new discovery
When he found the fourth dimension,
When he discovered a new perspective on this world
But he ain't got rhythm
But he lacks the skill to harmonize with others
So no-one's with 'im,
He is alienated and has no friends by his side
The loneliest man in town.
He is the unluckiest one in town, as he lives a solitary life
A lonely man is he,
A solitary and dejected man, he is
Bendin' over his books,
Too engrossed in studying, he hardly even stands up straight
His wife and family
The people who care for him at home
Keep givin' him dirty looks;
They disdain him and his ways, and look at him with contempt
'Cause he ain't got rhythm,
Because he doesn't have the poise nor the coordination to make life easier
When they call him up it's to call him down.
Whenever they try to communicate with him, they only scold and put him down
With that daring aviator
That bold and adventurous pilot
He encircled the equator,
He completed a trip around the world, going along the equatorial line
But he ain't got rhythm
But he lacks the ability to follow a steady beat
So no-one's with 'im,
Therefore he is all alone, with no one accompanying him
The loneliest man in town.
Thus he is the saddest and most isolated one around
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: I. BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zahdio
Written by Irving Berlin, this was one of the greatest tunes of that era. Jimmy Rushing was bigger than life and set the style for popular music from that time on. He changed popular music from the regimented and stiff classical origin into something fun and beautiful. Before him there was no one with that persona. He was the face for these big bands, with his vocals, and sounds just as great today....
@AJNorth
"He Ain't Got Rhythm" comes from the 1937 musical film "On the Avenue," directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Dick Powell, Madeleine Carroll, and Alice Faye, who sings it in the picture. All of the songs in the film were composed by Irving Berlin. Among a substantial number of extraordinary recordings Jimmy Rushing made, of which this is one, two additional stand-outs are "Pennies From Heaven," also with Benny Goodman, and "Exactly Like You," with Count Basie. Rushing died of leukemia in 1972.
@Corrie121
Another firm favourite of mine . This one goes straight to my "Swing" playlist. I'm surprised to find that mine is the first comment. Thank you for sharing this 5* post.
@AJNorth
Actually, Rushing's great recording of "Pennies" was also with Basie, from 1937 (the Goodman version was from 1958).
@javahead8
A great lyric - I like the Einstein reference.
@Finkanslig
Irving Berlin tune written in 1936. Benny Goodman uses Jimmy Mundy's arrangement for this 30 DEC 1936 recording (New York), with Gene Krupa on drums. Benny's brother Harrry plays bass. But it's ALL Jimmy Rushing on this one. :I:
@jrb51055
Oh look!!! my friend Mr. Goodman...wrote a song just for me!!. White boy, 2 left feet, cant carry a tune, nor keep the beat.
@connor6728
THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT SONG GET OFF THE INTERNET
@Zepje
YES
@rcavictorman
A solid version, and you're a fool. Go embarrass yourself somewhere else.