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.
I Was Lucky
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yesterday, perhaps
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps.
Once I was young,
But never was naive.
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve.
[Chorus:]
I didn't know what time it was,
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!
I didn't know what time it was,
You held my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.
Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand to see your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
I didn't know what time it was,
Life was no prize.
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes.
I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now
Once I was old
Twenty years or so
Rather well preserved,
The wrinkles didn't show.
Once I ws old,
But not too old for fun.
I used to hunt for little girls
Up my imaginary gun.
But now I aim for only one!
[Chorus]
The opening stanza of Benny Goodman's song I Was Lucky expresses a sense of nostalgia for a younger, more carefree time in the singer's life. Despite having a few romantic encounters, the personage claims he was never naive; he was confident in his flirtation and teased the notion of harboring a few tricks up his sleeve. The sharp contrast between his younger days and the present is most evident in the chorus when he explains that he never knew what time it was until he met the person addressed in the song. The tone of his voice then shifts to one of admiration and gratitude, expressing that he had a lovely time with them and it was grand to be alive and young again. The person remarks how wise they have become and now understands the value of time.
In the second stanza, the singer is not old but aged, and he writes how he is still well-preserved despite wrinkles. This statement emphasizes the newness and freshness that the person has come to appreciate since meeting the person he is singing to. He expresses his gratitude for finding someone whom he cherishes deeply in contrast to his previous endeavors with little girls. The song conveys how the person is much happier with his current situation, having acquired a heightened awareness of time and of his place in life, it is as though he has everything that he could ask for simply by being with the person he cares for.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was young
During the early stage of my life
Yesterday, perhaps
I feel like it happened in the distant past
Danced with Jim and Paul
I used to dance with many partners
And kissed some other chaps.
I used to kiss a few other men
Once I was young,
During the early stage of my life
But never was naive.
But I was never innocent or gullible
I thought I had a trick or two
I believed I had some clever strategies
Up my imaginary sleeve.
That I kept to myself and only imagined
I didn't know what time it was,
I was unaware of the current moment or my reality
Then I met you.
Until I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
It was a beautiful and enjoyable time
How sublime it was too!
It was an exquisite experience as well
You held my hand.
You touched me affectionately
Warm like the month of May it was,
And it felt warm like a pleasant day in May
And I'll say it was grand.
I will admit it was excellent
Grand to be alive, to be young,
It was amazing to live, to be youthful
To be mad, to be yours alone!
To be crazy in love with you and no one else
Grand to see your face, feel your touch,
It was magnificent to look at your face and feel your touch
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
To hear you say that you belong only to me
Life was no prize.
Life was unsatisfactory or disappointing for me
I wanted love and here it was
I was searching for love, and I found it
Shining out of your eyes.
The love was evident from the way you looked at me
I'm wise,
I am intelligent or experienced
And I know what time it is now
And now I have a clear understanding of my current situation
Once I was old
As I grew older
Twenty years or so
Around twenty years had passed
Rather well preserved,
I still look decent given my age
The wrinkles didn't show.
The age-lines on my appearance were not too visible
But not too old for fun.
Despite my age, I still enjoy having fun
I used to hunt for little girls
I would try to date younger women
Up my imaginary gun.
As a metaphor, I would aim to conquer them with my charm
But now I aim for only one!
But now I only set my sights on you
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roybo1930
Simply GEORGOUS! What a Beautiful Goodman Record! And You put Helen Ward on the vocal, YOU HAVE A WINNER!
@Trombonology
One of my favorite examples of the sedate, pre-Palomar breakthrough Goodman orch. The great Helen Ward is marvelous here.
@richardbrowe9299
You Madam Are A True Treasure. I Always Look Forward To Your Equisite Interpretation And Insightful Wisdom. Thank You.
@Trombonology
@Richard Browe You've made my day -- thank YOU!
@richardbrowe9299
@Trombonology Erstwhile You Are Welcome, Have A Grand Evening.
@thendrjazz
Next to last tune from BG's last session for Columbia, just before he signs with Victor and the end of the Let's Dance radio . It shows the amount of sweet material still in the BG book at this point. Victor sessions in the early summer of 1935 will have lots of the swing material that will establish BG as the "King of Swing" after his triumphant August West Coast appearances built on his new youthful audience
@scotnick59
Helen's voice is lovely here. A heavy smoker, she lost her special timbre later in life.
@jannetjebicker4648
Thank you for sharing! Enjoyed listening to this song and beautiful lyrics!🌹☺️🌺🌺☺️
@brayanmedina1295
Gracias por el contenido los aprecio .....justo buscaba este tipo de músicas 🥺🥺🙌
@phredl
One of my all time favorite movies!