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.
Junk Man
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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The broken heart I got from you
I'm gonna give that junk man my broken heart
For a loaded thirty-two
I'm gonna give that junk man my old gladrags
I'm gonna wear a gown of black
Better pack your trunk man, pack your bags
Now I ain't braggin'
You can't throw me down
I'm gonna fix your wagon
So you can't go to town
I'm gonna do you right cause you done me wrong
I'm gonna do you black and blue
And then I'll tell that junk man to come along
And pick up what's left of you
The lyrics of "Junk Man" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra describe a woman who has been hurt by her lover and is seeking revenge by giving her heart to a junk man and trading her old clothes for a new gown of black. She plans to pursue her lover, who she refers to as the "trunk man," and ruin his reputation so he cannot go to town. She wants to do him black and blue, then leave what's left of him for the junk man to pick up.
The lyrics suggest a woman who has been scorned and is now seeking to make her lover pay. She is not hesitant to use any means necessary, even if it means giving away her heart to the junk man. The line "I'm gonna fix your wagon so you can't go to town" illustrates her vengeful intent. In the end, she plans to leave her lover in a sorry state and letting the junk man pick up the pieces.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna give that junk man my broken heart
I will dispose of my broken heart by giving it to the junk man
The broken heart I got from you
My broken heart was caused by you
For a loaded thirty-two
In exchange, I will receive a firearm
I'm gonna give that junk man my old gladrags
I will give the junk man my old clothes
I'm gonna wear a gown of black
I will wear a black dress
Better pack your trunk man, pack your bags
You should prepare to leave because I am coming for you
Cause I'm gettin' on your track
I am looking for you and will not rest until I find you
Now I ain't braggin'
I am not boasting
You can't throw me down
You cannot defeat me
I'm gonna fix your wagon
I am going to take revenge on you
So you can't go to town
So that you cannot escape or move on
I'm gonna do you right cause you done me wrong
I will right the wrongs you have done to me
I'm gonna do you black and blue
I will severely harm you
And then I'll tell that junk man to come along
Afterwards, I will call the junk man
And pick up what's left of you
To collect what remains of you
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK LOESSER, JOSEPH MEYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind