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.
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say
Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over
If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street
On the Sunny Side of the Street is a classic jazz song written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields in 1930. The song has been performed by many famous artists such as Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. The lyrics describe a person who is feeling down and alone, until they meet someone who brightens their day and teaches them to find happiness in life. The song encourages the listener to let go of their worries and walk on the sunny side of the street, where life can be sweet.
The opening lyrics describe the loneliness and shadows that the singer experiences before they meet the person who brings light into their life. The words "walked with no one and talked with no one" paint a picture of a person who is isolated and has no companionship. However, when the person they meet "brightens" their life, they are finally able to greet the day with joy and complete it with satisfaction.
The chorus of the song is an uplifting message that encourages listeners to leave their worries behind and direct their feet toward the sunny side of the street. The song suggests that happiness is all around us if we choose to focus on it. Even if the singer were to have "never have a cent," they would still feel as rich as Rockefeller with gold dust at their feet, simply because they have the sun in their heart.
Overall, On the Sunny Side of the Street is a hopeful and uplifting tune that encourages listeners to find happiness in life, even when times are tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked with no one and talked with no one
I used to spend most of my days alone, shutting myself out from others and keeping to myself.
And I had nothing but shadows
There was nothing that brought me any joy, my days felt empty and meaningless.
Then one morning you passed
One day, someone special came into my life and caught my attention.
And I brightened at last
Ever since that person arrived, I've started feeling happier, and my outlook on life has brightened.
Now I greet the day and complete the day
I now embrace every day with open arms, and I go to sleep feeling content with how I spent my time.
With the sun in my heart
I carry a grateful heart, full of positivity and happiness.
All my worry blew away
All the problems that had been weighing me down before seemed to have disappeared as if blown away by the wind.
When you taught me how to say
I learned how to express my feelings and communicate my thoughts to that special someone.
Grab your coat and get your hat
Get dressed and get ready to start your day by leaving your worries behind.
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Don't let any problems you're facing affect your day, leave them at the door and step outside carefree.
Just direct your feet
Follow your intuition, trust your instincts, and you'll end up exactly where you're meant to be that day.
To the sunny side of the street
Take the path that brings you positivity and light, where the world seems brighter and happier.
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Listen closely and you can hear the sound of your own happiness and inner peace.
And that happy tune is your step
Your steps should be confident and upbeat, as if dancing to the rhythm of your own positivity.
Life can be so sweet
Life can be full of joy and sweetness if we approach it with a positive attitude.
On the sunny side of the street
We can make the most out of each day by choosing to focus on the good and walking on the brighter side of life.
I used to walk in the shade
I spent most of my life hiding away, living in the shadows.
With those blues on parade
I was plagued by depression and sadness, and it was very visible to others.
But I'm not afraid
But now, I no longer let these emotions control me, and I face each challenge head-on with bravery.
This Rover crossed over
I've left behind my old self and have embraced a new identity, fearless and positive.
If I never have a cent
Money doesn't define one's wealth and that there is richness in life beyond material possessions.
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
One can feel as wealthy and successful as Rockefeller without monetary riches, through a content heart and positive mindset.
Gold dust at my feet
Each step I take in my happy state feels like a walk over gold dust. It's as if every step is treasured.
On the sunny side of the street
Life becomes better when one takes a brighter and happier approach to life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mitina4608
Grab your coat get your hat
披上大衣 戴上帽子
Leave your worries on the doorstep
把煩憂 留在門口
Just direct your feet
就朝那去吧
To the sunny side of the street
往街上的向陽面去吧
Don’t you hear the pitter-pat
沒聽見嗎？那清脆的聲響
And that happy tune is your step
吟唱著快樂曲調的 是你的腳步
Life can be so sweet
生命 將會如此甜美
On the sunny side of the street
在街上的向陽面
I used to walk in the shade
我曾走在陰暗處
with those blues on parade
與憂鬱、悲傷 同行
But I'm not afraid
但我不害怕
This rover crossed over
這個漂泊的人 已經過了街
If I never had a cent
而即使我一文不名
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
我仍將富有的 有如洛克斐勒
Gold dust at my feet
金沙 就在腳邊
On the sunny side of the street
在那灑著陽光的 街上的向陽面
@DirkDillingerBlues
Recorded in 1941, a time when children on the streets only needed a stick and a rock to be entertained while parents huddled around the radio in the parlour to be entertained by the amplitude modulation of great songs like this ...
@davidbrown8763
What a great Lady.
To distract them from one of the two most horrific wars in history, they certainly needed messages like the uplifting message in this song.
@yogibexargaming4600
to be precise it was recorded on Christmas Eve a few weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wild that such a happy song was recorded during a tragic time for the nation.
@korntidapongkaew7572
I am born in 1985 but my life was attracted and fascinated in that era with those song.
@jetpilot3714
Yep, same here
@KimberleyB
My husband and I used this song as the recessional at our wedding almost 27 years ago. Our wedding had some fun, eclectic music. Funny story, one we have on video and I should post. The wedding party filed out as the intro played, then -- right as the pastor put his foot out to step down onto the first step off the platform -- Peggy Lee began singing, "Grab your coat get your hat, leave your worries on the doorstep...." The pastor paused just a moment, grinned, shrugged, and started down the steps. You can hear the guests laughing on the video. We hadn't planned that timing at all, but it was perfect. Great memories. 🥰
@honestdave4362
Dorothy Fields was a fabulous lyricist: simple, easy lyrics that don't overwhelm the music, and yet very picturesque at the same time.
@ronaldciccone260
Peggy And Benny, Incredible, Great Jazz.
@ronaldciccone260
My Mother Said To Me In The Forties Guys Would Keep Popping Nickles In Jute Box To Hear Peggy Sing And Her Beauty.
@brendonbearss4381
I listen to this while im doing my homework so that i dont get mad