Eckstine was an American jazz singer and bandleader who also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar. He also performed briefly as Billy X. Stine. His nickname was Mr. B. Although best known as a singer, his openness to new music made him a strong influence on modern jazz, particularly bebop, as he gave employment to many of the musicians who founded the style.
After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including:
Saxophones: Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Lucky Thompson, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Budd Johnson, Leo Parker
Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro
Drums: Art Blakey
Singers: Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan
Eckstine later formed an octet, then went solo, becoming a popular ballad singer while remaining an important figure in jazz. His huge, distinctive baritone made him one of the first African American singers to have mainstream success. He was the composer of the blues classic "Jelly, Jelly" and also recorded the R&B top hit "Stormy Monday Blues" in 1942 (not to be confused with T-Bone Walker's 1947 "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)"). Most of his success as a singer came with ballads, including "Everything I have is Yours", "Blue Moon", "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "That Old Black Magic". His last hit was "Passing Strangers", a duet with Sarah Vaughan released in 1957.
Eckstine was a style leader and noted sharp dresser. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a Mr. B. Collar. In addition to looking cool, the collar expanded and contracted without popping open, which allowed his neck to swell while playing his horns. The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1984, Eckstine recorded his final album, I Am A Singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo.
Bewildered
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost in a dream of you
Where is the love I knew
Why did we part?
Bewildered
Helpless without you near
Wishing your heart could hear
Must I have sleepless nights and endless days?
Oh love why did you leave my soul without a spark?
I'm in the dark
Bewildered
I need your guiding hand
I'll never understand
How you could love me, then leave me
Bewildered
The lyrics of Billy Eckstine's Bewildered express the emotions of a person who is lost and confused after a breakup. The singer is dreaming of his former love and wondering what happened to the feelings they once shared. He longs to have her by his side again and wishes that she could hear the message in his heart. The singer is unable to sleep or feel any joy without his partner, and he can't comprehend how she could love him and then abandon him.
This song conveys a sense of helplessness and desperation that comes with feeling abandoned by someone you love. The singer is longing for the comfort and guidance of his former partner, but he is bewildered by the sudden end to their relationship. The chorus repeats the word "bewildered," which amplifies the sense of confusion and uncertainty that the singer is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Bewildered
Feeling completely confused and disoriented
Lost in a dream of you
Thinking constantly about you and unable to focus on anything else
Where is the love I knew
Questioning where the love you shared went, since it no longer feels the same
Why did we part?
Questioning why the relationship ended, without any clear reason
Helpless without you near
Feeling powerless and vulnerable when you're not around
Wishing your heart could hear
Longing for you to understand and empathize with the emotions you're feeling
What's in my heart
Trying to express the overwhelming feelings and emotions you're experiencing
Must I have sleepless nights and endless days?
Wondering if the pain and confusion will ever end
Oh love why did you leave my soul without a spark?
Asking why the love that once ignited your soul has left you feeling empty
I'm in the dark
Feeling lost with no clear direction or answers
I need your guiding hand
Longing for your help and support to navigate through the difficult time
I'll never understand
Accepting that you may never fully comprehend why things happened the way they did
How you could love me, then leave me
Struggling to reconcile the fact that you were once loved, but now abandoned
Bewildered
Re-emphasizing the confusion and disorientation felt throughout the song
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LIBBY QUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
Billy always did great tunes -- both the well-known and, as here, the neglected gems.
Paulo Antonio Paulino
Billy Ekstine a great singer...