Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) … Read Full Bio ↴Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, The Professor, and Swing's Senior Statesman.

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.

Somebody loves me
Benny Goodman Lyrics

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I'm somebody nobody loves
Oh me, oh my, my, my
I'm somebody nobody loves,
I wonder why, why, why

Although I know it's most alarmin'
I've prayed on bended knee
For that certain gay prince charmin'

Who was meant for me

I've got to find me a somebody soon
Or else I'll die, die, die,
I'd take the man in the moon
If he'd give me a try
I'm just a lonesome Cinderella

That romance passes by
I'm somebody nobody loves, oh me oh my.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's song Somebody Nobody Loves express the pain and loneliness of the singer who feels unloved and unwanted by anyone. The song begins with a lament about being a nobody in the eyes of others and asks the question of why nobody cares for them. Throughout the song, we see the singer's yearning for love and someone to share their life with. They have prayed for a prince charming who is meant for them, but to no avail.

The lyrics have a sense of desperation as it is revealed that the singer fears they will die without experiencing love. They would even take the man in the moon if given a chance. The tone of the song is mournful as it portrays the singer as a lonesome Cinderella that romance continually passes by. The singer feels hopeless and dejected but expresses their feelings nonetheless. They are someone who has a lot of love to give but doesn't have anyone to share it with.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm somebody nobody loves
I consider myself someone who is not loved by anyone else

Oh me, oh my, my, my
Expressing surprise or feeble optimism for the situation.

I wonder why, why, why
Expressing confusion or concern for the situation.

Although I know it's most alarmin'
Even though I know it's concerning and uncomfortable.

I've prayed on bended knee
I have desperately prayed for a solution.

For that certain gay prince charmin'
For the ideal partner, a prince charming

Who was meant for me
Who was destined to be with me.

I've got to find me a somebody soon
I must find a partner quickly.

Or else I'll die, die, die,
I am exaggerating the severity of the situation.

I'd take the man in the moon
I would settle for anyone.

If he'd give me a try
If he would give me a chance.