One of the most famous and influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, B… Read Full Bio ↴One of the most famous and influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, Bill Evans formed the acclaimed piano trio in 1959, along with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Evans' focus in this trio was jazz standards and original compositions, with an emphasis on interplay among the band members that often bordered on collective improvisation and blurred the line between soloist and accompanist. This trio recorded four albums: Portrait in Jazz (1959), Explorations, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, and Waltz for Debby (all recorded in 1961). The latter two albums are live recordings drawn from the same recording date, and they are routinely named among the greatest jazz recordings of all time. After LaFaro's untimely death, Evans went into seclusion for nearly a year, then re-formed the trio. After that, the personnel of the trio (other than Evans) changed every few years.

Bassists included Scott LaFaro(1959-1961), Chuck Israels (1962-1965), Gary Peacock(1963), Teddy Kotick (1966), Eddie Gomez(1966-1977), and Marc Johnson(1978-1980).
On drums the trio had Paul Motian (1959-1962), Larry Bunker ( 1962-1965), Arnie Wise (1966, 1968), Joe Hunt (1967), Philly Joe Jones (1967, 1977-1978), Jack DeJohnette (1968), John Dentz (1968), Marty Morell (1968-1975), Eliot Zigmund (1975-1977), and Joe La Barbera (1978-1980).

Porgy
Bill Evans Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love you, Porgy
Don't let him take me
Don't let him handle me
And drive me mad

If you can keep me
I want to stay with you forever
And I'll be glad

I love you, Porgy
Don't let him take me
Don't let him handle me
With his hot hands

If you can keep me
I want to stay with you forever
I like my man

Someday I know he's coming
Back to call me
He's gonna handle me
And hold me so

It's going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me

But when he comes, I know
I'll have to go

Overall Meaning

The song "Porgy" by Bill Evans Trio is a melancholic yet romantic ballad with emotional lyrics. It is a love song between two individuals, one of whom is afraid of being taken away by another man who might treat her badly. She expresses her love for Porgy, pleading him not to let the other man take her away and drive her mad. She is hopeful that if Porgy can keep her, she will stay with him forever and be glad. She repeats her love and plea for Porgy to keep her throughout the song.

The woman knows that someday the other man will come back to call her, he will handle her, hold her in his arms, and make her feel like dying. This longing and melancholic feeling is palpable in the lyrics. Even though she loves Porgy, she knows that she will have to leave him when the other man comes back. The song expresses the pain of loving someone when you know you might not be able to stay together forever.

Line by Line Meaning

I love you, Porgy
Expressing love towards Porgy

Don't let him take me
Asking Porgy to protect from someone taking her away

Don't let him handle me
Requesting not to be physically handled by someone

And drive me mad
Avoiding any actions that make her crazy

If you can keep me
Asking if Porgy is capable of holding her safely

I want to stay with you forever
Claiming the desire to be with Porgy always

And I'll be glad
Happiness on staying with Porgy

With his hot hands
Describing someone's hands as hot

I like my man
Preferring someone like Porgy

Someday I know he's coming
Believing in someone to come in the future

Back to call me
Referring the someone to get in touch again

He's gonna handle me
Expecting someone to physically control her

And hold me so
Being embraced by someone

It's going to be like dying, Porgy
Referring to a feeling of helplessness on meeting someone else

When he calls me
Referring to someone calling out to her

But when he comes, I know
Being confident on someone's arrival

I'll have to go
Knowing the time will come to leave Porgy

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DU BOSE HEYWARD, GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@iainrae6159

3y↑120

I remember sitting in the Village Vangard in 1968 I believe, only a few feet from the piano.
Bill never said a word all night, just played sublime music. Unforgettable experience.

@ianhope3203

2y↑1

Were you talking to the rest of the audience?

@kevingallagher400

legendary, sir.

@ediebeebop

Lucky you. (sweeter than sweet)

@asandl

11w

You are the luckiest human being ever!

@truthslap

4y↑14

LaFaro's bass resonance is a beautiful marvel.

@tomcecil6029

7y↑68

Scott LaFaro's playing is magical. Another one lost to soon.

@asz491

His sound is an honest voice

@thomasdimattia3556

1y↑4

Bill Evans was in a totally higher dimension. No one else compares. I sincerely believe it was because of his classical training and love of Debussey.

@tomd3098

6y↑26

One of those truly magical pieces of music that makes me smile and cry at the same time.

@ianhope3203

Makes me cry to hear the audience totally ignoring the playing.

@douglashott9843

48w↑1

Makes me cry at the what might have been of Scott LaFaro when I hear his artistry and also think about ANY life ending at that age.

@bellagiunta4173

7y↑34

And I cry every time I hear Bill play this tune. Broke the mold with him.

@officialnicklez7659

5y↑23

0:17
the 2 5 1 that makes my heart melting, and those wide extentions in Gm13 and Dominant! Evans knew how to enchant the musical geeks from conservatories.

@Da_Xman

4y↑10

'Sublime' is the word that perfectly fits for practically 'everything Bill Evans'...quite possibly the most heartfelt player (ever). Thank God you got recorded; yours was one of the most beautifully musical vibes that ever lived...RIP Bill Evans and God bless...

@NotLegato

8y↑81

i find the chatter in the background really relaxing.

@skout-rr4sr

8y↑10

Yes, it's one way you get the feel of being in the club as this was happening....as if they were thinking "hey, just another number by a well known player"....not knowing the true magic happening before their eyes and ears. The lady laughing around 5:20 was probably being told a joke, as she held a smoke in one had and sipped a martini. I don't feel the laughter is an insult (like some other says here), it's just part of the atmosphere.

@07FreshMaker

5y↑1

Not Legato me too... this is so beautiful

@eugenelevert6280

Not Legato ... the chatter is civilization, relaxed attention, uptown and downtown.

@stevekallaugher2325

I want to slap them, tell them to shut the hell up and show some respect to the musicians. I've done it before and I'll do it again.

Fair warning: The next time you're at the Vanguard and decide your chatter is more important than the music, and so ruin something that would otherwise be beautiful for those around you, just hope I'm not at the next table.

@joannahhillebrandt5116

Same.

1 More Replies...

@daniellackritz8664

4y↑7

Intelligence meets emotional depth. The contrabass is so perfectly aligned with the piano. Exquisite music profoundly conceived and expertly performed.

@TheDuarteCotta

11y↑22

I can't really count the amount of times i've fell to tears drunk, listening to this...i don't even know what to call it...Evans is king.

@dough4297

1y↑2

It has it all. Evans brilliant as usual, Motian perfect, Scott LaFaro off the charts as a young genius we didn't get to hear enough of, and a song that reeks of tragedy, perfectly executed by the trio. If you don't cry, I won't condemn you but I'd strongly suggest you seek other entertainment.

@BossCrunk

8y↑54

I'd like to die in The Village Vanguard after three slick martinis and some cool jazz. Best way to go that I can think of.

@benadams1826

8y↑5

Charles, I really can't disagree with you on that.

@deving3306

6y↑5

Ben and Charles, I cannot agree more with you on that.

@tomd3098

6y↑1

Cannot agree more. Preferably whilst listening to these three fine gentlemen... obviously impossible now, but, guessing we're talking hypothetically :P

@selenahilson6910

5y↑1

Was it that good! Make me think I missed something! Wow!

@franckdebank

Ben, Devin and Charles cannot agree more on this one.Provided you find yourself surrounded by Bill and Scott.

@PulentaGuy

4y↑5

I come from "cold seas" and "lips", how beautiful is the origin

@robinblack2001

29w↑1

Imagine sitting through this performed live and actually wanting to talk lmao

@caponsacchi

8y↑4

Utter simplicity, yet inexhausibly complex in its impressionistic beauty, the subtle counter voices and chord clusters of the left hand along with the unique, "breathing touch" of Bill's enormous hands (thick fingers), coaxing human emotions from the mechanical apparatus that is the grand piano. And almost 20 years later, in the last year of his life, his performance of the same tune (from "The Paris Concert") would take an opposite path--continually building textures, exploding with triumphant expressionist power, an outburst of anguish and urgency, the artist's evolution and last hurrah.

@tonyd3166

si! e vero la piu bella simplicita.

@generamp3441

2y↑2

I often fall asleep with this music at night...

@AlexReynolds

7y↑22

I tear up every time I hear this.

@MrRickywallace

5y↑7

Real cool, ethereal, live, great pianist, one of the greatest songs ever written!

@DunhillHilton

14y↑4

One of Bill Evan's best songs ever. Thank you.

@mariadoloresvidalpianista3225

46w↑1

Sublime, this is music is just the best..

@fredriksturesson5610

2y↑1

I love this masterpiece of emotional and soothing bliss from ’The One and Only’ - Bill Evans tour de force and leading his piano with so much gentleness and grace. A truly amazing musician ❤️✨🌟🙏

@edgarallanlovecraft5485

7y↑9

I love the mummer of the crowd...just adds to the sublime

@uneedtherapy42

7y↑3

such a great comment... makes me think of who they were.... and did they realize they were witness to sublime genius? Was it raining outside? etc etc...

@alansshtr

2y↑1

My friend is a Porgy and he loves this song! He listens to this song when he goes to sleep at night. Very calming and I enjoy this very much <333

@TonyTony..

2y↑2

Still so awed by how 88 keys sampled this under my nose, the 4 keys he used just transformed with his sample. Such a great Mos Def track. Thanks Bill

@TonyTony..

Aware it’s a cover in a way but just like the sample, Bill transformed the piece. Love his work, especially appreciate him for his work with Miles,(the man who conceived cool)they were sure miles ahead. Jazz is the mother of HipHop you gotta show love.

@dough4297

Across rock, classical, bluegrass, jazz...it's difficult to find ANYTHING that is better than this...putting aside the crying over what might have been with Scott LaFaro's beautiful bass.

@tonyd3166

6y↑2

Scott le Faro - Bill never quite got over his death - how could you - lovely. lovely song.

@ElazarYershovFilms

43w

made me cry after listening again

@maggiessong

8y↑90

After Scott LaFaro was killed he never played this unless a solo, as if he could still hear Scotty's bass.

@tonyd3166

7y↑1

e vero

@JH-bb8in

6y↑6

Damn, that is deep as fuck

@MaxRandall

6y↑13

Yep, Lafaro died 10 days after this recording.

@afroindoriente

5y↑6

It was a noble and beautiful way to honor your partner. I was touched when I heard that.

@imQohGame

Scott is the best so far

@JIN-hx6tb

3y↑1

sometimes, this kind of music deliver something more than lyrics, including unexpressible feelings with words.

@Bruningable

14y↑28

I love the background noises. They go very well with the trio´s wonderful playing.

@JO-so1dk

6y↑1

Bruningable wish I was there

@rboaxx9065

4y↑1

Sorry! nothing to see with music... Lack of respect!!!

@rboaxx9065

4y↑2

Bill himself didn't like to be used as background of bull shitting...

@philpryor7524

5y↑2

Isn't it wonderful, edged with background noise and layered with bass subtlety, Evan's inner withdrawal to see his soul arguing and contemplating, while we get all these given joys and wonders...Great art in any form may well have the complexities, the urges of this.

@irakey

12y↑1

I love it .Bill made it fit for Piano...just perfect...That's what intellect is .To make it simple and beautiful,,Of course there is lot of practicing and lot of drugs behind ...but it doesn't matter.it comes out just beautiful and for us its a joy...Thank you Bill,Scott and Paul

@maggiessong

8y↑2

Oh yes...."anguish".....Bill found the sound that marries pleasure and pain. Ultimately though, he always found a a way to "sing."

@marinakeys

4y↑2

the one and only, Bill!

@yeonkor3032

3y↑2

영상의 빌 에반스를 보면서 음악을 들으면, 고독함이 깊어진다. 주위의 잔잔한 대화소리에 고요하고 애절한 음색은 마치 대비되며, 그렇지만 음악을 이어나가야 하는 숭고한 연주자의 흐름이, 내 마음이 녹아든다. 고독이 깊어만 간다.

@ElazarYershovFilms

44w

Fantastic jazz.

@tonyd3166

8y↑4

Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard "Porgy I loves you" Music does not get much better than this

@skout-rr4sr

8y↑2

I agree, Tony. This tune, done by this trio, somehow makes you feel happy and tearful all at once. Truly a dramatic, emotional number.

@tonyd3166

8y↑1

for me just very high quality, wonderful pianism

@eugenelevert6280

5y↑2

The thing’s a part of its background, the village post-beats, white gloves, jackets, this incredible set with Mad Men in the background. Hanging around that bar with that casual talk and laughter is caught inside this cut like WASP in amber. This is great music, great America.

When the AI arrives, I want every last shred of conversation, the stupidest laugh in the remix, Bill’s trio background for the cultural master you’ll buy from Amazon.

And Spanish Key arrives in a decade.

@derrickhowlettDQ

9y↑31

How can a strictly instrumental version of this poignant song make one cry? Bill Evans magically enchants the piano, which he appears to worship! Many jazz pianists kind of worship the playing of Evans, too. Knowing the emotional content of the original duet from PORGY AND BESS helps, of course. Prodigious bass playing, also, by the way! :)

@1122redbird

8y↑1

+derrick howlett Well said.

@sundevilification

8y↑1

+1122redbird concurr.Thank you.

@derrickhowlettDQ

1122redbird , sundevilification :-)

@tomd3098

6y↑1

If you don't cry whilst listening to Bill Evans, there's something wrong with you :P In my opinion at least, haha

@calichav

Evans was an emotional person and said "Jazz is a feeling" this feeling certainly was in his music

1 More Replies...

@turkland77

13y↑1

I'm not sure if a better song was ever written.

@jannbeckers

11y↑1

I agree, nothing in the world can compare to being a bit light-headed and listening to this...

@DURANGOACE1

13y↑1

@Bruningable i think you are absolutely right, these background voices bring out some pretty melancholic, misty, atmosphere that goes perfectly with music, one of my favorite evans -trio recording truly one of epic jazz recordings of all time

@expert0509

3y↑2

this is my favourit song

@MrWolfmantim

13y↑8

I don' t know of another jazz pianist on the same level as Bill Evans (or close).

@user-bn3tz6sg8g

Herbie hancock

@tonyd3166

6y↑1

it's just so beautiful

@tonyd3166

6y↑2

this is so beautiful

@jannbeckers

11y↑3

1:25 - 1:35 is touching something inside me I cannot explain. Genious. Like "Girl I want to tell you a story but I can't, don't you just understand?"

@user-hw3os1ii5h

I agree. It seems uncontrollably poignant.

@brayanleonelcastellanosvil8995

Cold seas -jinsang 🌊

@plvarnier

7y↑2

so much heart in this

@tonyd3166

6y↑1

lovely music

@DURANGOACE1

14y↑1

OMG tnx for posting this, one of my favorites, bill evans is unique

@maggiessong

Hey caponsacchi I stopped by here on the way to work....so glad. More and more evansevans' music is the only thing that keeps me sane in this world. You too?? I thought so..............

@blujafunk

10y↑29

don't know how the bass has that intonation it sounds 10 octaves below and clear as day, never again will it be

@tributicon

9y↑4

blujafunk Basses can sound amazing with the right recording equipment. And in recordings lot's of basses have great tones, but are set a much lower volume than the other instruments.

@blujafunk

9y↑3

right on, and the beauty of this Trio is their equality

@myriadmediagroup

8y↑8

+blujafunk It's Scott LaFaro. That's how. He died in a car accident shortly after this recording was made.

@jwsuicides8095

7y↑4

Thanks for all the illuminating comment everyone. I've had this album for many a decade but it never ceases to amaze me at all the people talking in the background. I understand that if you're in certain bars, etc, it is a different dynamic to being in a theatre. Amazed how Bill Evans keeps his centre quiet control space to still deliver this emotional response.

@ArtyYooo

6y↑8

To add to what others have said: he also had a very high quality bass made in 1825 by a master American craftsman called Abraham Prescott.

@anthonyfcullen6666

52w

perfect

@thelasonj

7y↑1

this is so beautiful. who could be talking while this is happening in front of you? rude. I love this. THANK YOU for posting. 😊

@antoniovaldess

5y↑2

5:16 Somewhere we are with those we love ... enjoying this song as human and beautiful as the laughter of a woman.

5:16 En algún lugar estamos con aquellos a quienes amamos ... disfrutando esta canción tan humana y bella como la risa de una mujer.

@antoine78able

10y↑4

quel feeling!!

@maggiessong

8y↑2

After hearing that chord at 30 and 31, yes, one could die happy..............

@caponsacchi

The rephrasing of the melody an octave up? Even after identifying the chord and mapping out its voicing, it would be impossible to replicate. Bill's left hand is as strong as his right, his exceptionally "thick" fingers applying equal pressure to the keys in a manner that resists distinguishing between the two hands--10 fingers as one, yet the result is always greater than the sum of the parts. I've heard other pianists perform written transcriptions of Bill's performances--invariably they sound "pretty," a word that never fits Bill's playing.

@tonyd3166

absolutely right. He never sounds pretty - even in Alice in Wonderland. He has the touch and clinicism of a top classical pianist but plays eloquent, beautiful jazz.

@tonyd3166

yes

@tonyd3166

7y↑1

well yes but the background noises reveal it as one of the the Village Vanguard recordings. Utterly sublime though

@muddysneakers2141

13y↑1

@Bruningable I agree, they lend a great deal to the atmospheric feel of the music.

@JibsRial

2y↑1

This song is essentially a blues. Listen to the bass.

@Chreeeis

5y↑11

Is the background chatter real? It sounds almost too good to be real. It practically blends into the music

@evilstormgnat

4y↑6

Absolutely real. Recorded live at the Village Vanguard. Stunning, isn't it?

@marfranco9102

10y↑2

Couldn't agree with you more Jennifer.
Fortunately, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where we have the SF Jazz Center, marvelous concert hall and world class Jazz Clubs Yoshis where the audiences are VERY respectful of the music.

@DURANGOACE1

14y

@Bruningable OMG tnx for posting this, one of my favorites, bill evans is unique

@contactkeithstack

I'm tuned so that this song is in G, I'm not sure if it actually is -
Around 1:20 I hear the bass play ii V i of iii then goes up a min3 then he plays Ab Db G Gb C back to B.
If you're playing chords is that just another ii V i of iii.
I'm very new to jazz - if this is even accurate - is that too simple a way to hear this. Do you need to voice the 1/2 step moves in the chords to sound coherent? What chords would you voice to respond to these "outside" notes?
Hope this makes sense, any help would be really appreciated.

@user-hw3os1ii5h

6y↑1

This track wasn't included in the original two LPs and was made public on the Milestone twofer in the 70s. Indeed it is one of Orin Keepnews' usual tactics but here Bill keeps playing with hardly any consideration of the interplay. Probably that's the reason for the exclusion. However the performance is a gem. Yes, esp. at 1;25 ff.

@agapefaith

6y↑4

jinsang again :))

@jimmorrison8486

6y↑1

I found his rearrangement of this really clever, took a while to work out what he took form where.

@Jaybeard

7y↑5

On September 15, 1980, Evans, who had been in bed for several days with stomach pains at his home in Fort Lee, was accompanied by Joe LaBarbera and Verchomin to the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he died that afternoon.[42] The cause of death was a combination of peptic ulcer, cirrhosis, bronchial pneumonia, and untreated hepatitis.[8] Evans' friend Gene Lees described Evans' struggle with drugs as "the longest suicide in history."[8] He was interred in Baton Rouge, next to his brother Harry. Services were held in Manhattan on Friday, September the 19th.[50] A tribute, planned by producer Orrin Keepnews and Tom Bradshaw, was held on the following Monday, September 22, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.[51] Fellow musicians paid homage to the late pianist in the first days of the 1980 Monterey Jazz Festival, which had opened that very week: Dave Brubeck played his own "In Your Own Sweet Way" on the 19th, The Manhattan Transfer would follow on the 20th, while John Lewis dedicated "I'll Remember April".[52]

No, he didn't die in a car accident.

@atom999able

One day, in the Village Vanguard in New York

@hdavis9856

3y↑1

I love how Hip-hop has opened me up to different jazz tunes. Because of Nujabes I was introduced to John Hicks. And now Jinsang brought me to Bill Evan's.

@user-ge6jb4hm2o

I never noticed Jinsang used Bill Evans samples. What tracks is he on?

@hdavis9856

@@user-ge6jb4hm2o Cold Seas

@mellodc

Can anyone help me figure out the approximate chord changes they use on the bridge? Especially last 6 bars or so? It's different...sounds like they add a bar on the solo?

@luke125

Here's what I have for the bridge:{: Ami7/ B-7(b5) E7(alt)/ A-7/ D-7(b5) G7(alt)/ C-7/ Ab7 G7/ C7(b9)/ //// / Bbmaj7/C/ //// ||

@JamesWood207

A somewhat late reply however it's something like alternating C9sus and G7alt/C (= eg C F Ab B / Db Eb Ab)

@jacobjohnson50

I mean... wow!

@hughmackie

14y↑3

For many years I've felt that there must be a special place in hell for that woman who laughs -- twice -- during the final moments of this beautiful played song.

@tastyfishu4896

~lost at sea~

@mauriziocoscia9291

Best performance to me. It’s a shame about audience noise...

@ebm1x10

i start to think

@pOBrain

13y↑3

if you like this and you like hip hop then type in "88 keys beat society"

@Jaylectronica

12y↑1

Mos Def - Love 1:04

@stephenilieff7531

3y↑1

wish i could play like that

@baderalmezeen

Grateful

@ultimatedj6688

0:04-0:07 Mos Def Love

@vapor1148

3y↑1

jinsang sampled from this pog

@ayedee.317

which song

@clafoutiancestral8889

@@ayedee.317 cold seas

@alefor5423

jazz ballad

@oddball7752

Jinsang sampled this for “Cold Seas”

@brucetruong7088

Pure hip hop

@tonyd3166

OMG

@seulgi_yome

41w↑1

2:50

@TomLandstreet

11y

It's actually 5:19 - 5:21

@jiyujizai

🌱💛🌷😃

@jiyujizai

25w

🌱💙🌺🙄

@stephenjdixon1

whats a load of big mouths doing at a Bill Evans gig? could do with a lot less of the cymbols aswell

@gohuskies583

13y↑1

What CD is this recording on? Anyone know?

@andrewrussell2845

6y↑1

The album is called 'Waltz for Debby'. Having said that, I've just realised you asked this question 7 years ago, when CD's were still in use. Probably easier to look it up on iTunes/Spotify these days.

@MrMovienator

6y↑1

0:13 “That’s Porgy & Bess”

@El99PorCiento

5y↑1

Amazing,but......well, it's only that I can't understand that drums patterns, that noisy cymbal. Probably they couldn't do a better mastering job, but it sounds too loud and overshadows piano solo.

@AJ-oc5eh

9y↑2

Why are people talking in the background? sacrilegious. The live at Montreux version (for which he won an award as album of the year) is superior and doesn't include the grey noise of peoples pointless conversations. Wore out the needle on my turntable playing that album

@1122redbird

8y↑8

+Adam Jagiellowicz This recording is from "The Complete Village Vanguard". The background noise of the audience adds to the feel of the record, taking the listener to what it would be like to hear this live, in a club, in the early 1960s. You completely miss the point.

@AJ-oc5eh

if i wanted to hear chit chat and superfluous noise i'd go to a cafe, that is the point

@1122redbird

8y↑3

+Adam Jagiellowicz And if you don't want to hear it, listen to a studio recording. That's the point.

@Groove1993

+Adam Jagiellowicz if you wanted to hear chit chat you could, however you wouldnt be able to listen to bill

@tonyd3166

It's just background, it's real, it's live: that's where the trio played and when I listen to the Village Vanguard recordings, the background noises fade into the background