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.
Thank You Love
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hums the April breeze
I love you
Echo the hills
I love you
The golden dawn agrees
As once more she sees
It's spring again
And birds on the wing again
Start to sing again
The old melody
I love you
That's the song of songs
And it all belongs
To you and me
It's spring again
And birds on the wing again
Start to sing again
The old melody
I love you
That's the song of songs
And it all belongs
To you and me
I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you
The lyrics of Billy Eckstine's song "You" talk about the undeniable love that the singer has for someone. The song depicts the onset of springtime, where the April breeze hums the tune of love, the hills echo the sentiment, and the golden dawn agrees as it sees the daffodils bloom. The spring season symbolizes the beginning of a new life and a new relationship, and the birds in the song start singing again the old melody, indicating the return of happiness and love.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "I love you" four times, emphasizing the depth of his love towards the person. The song of songs referred to in the lyrics further affirms the idea of the unmatched love, showing that it belongs only to those who genuinely love each other.
The lyrics of "You" are simple yet very effective in portraying the message of undeniable, true love. It shows how even nature agrees with the sentiment, making it a beautifully written love song that stands the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you
This is a declaration of love towards the person this song is addressed to.
Hums the April breeze
The natural world seems to echo the sentiment of love expressed by the singer, with even the breeze seemingly humming the words 'I love you'.
Echo the hills
The sound of love reverberates throughout the land, with even the hills responding in kind.
The golden dawn agrees
The rising of the sun symbolizes a new beginning, and it seems to confirm the powerful emotions the singer is feeling.
As once more she sees
The sun seems to be watching as love blossoms anew.
Daffodils
These flowers are a symbol of new beginnings and rebirth, and their presence in the song emphasizes the idea of love taking root and growing.
It's spring again
Spring is the season of renewal, and the emergence of new life in nature is a perfect metaphor for the feelings of love expressed in this song.
And birds on the wing again
The return of the birds signifies that life is moving forward, and they too seem to be singing a song of love and hope.
Start to sing again
The music of nature carries on, as it has always done, and the sound of the birds singing is a reminder that life goes on.
The old melody
This refers to the timeless quality of the song of love, which has been heard throughout the ages.
That's the song of songs
This phrase is a biblical reference, meaning the ultimate expression of love. It suggests that the singer considers the love he feels to be a perfect and complete expression of this idea.
And it all belongs
Love is something that can never be owned, but it is something that can be shared and cherished by two people.
To you and me
The love being celebrated in this song is something that is shared by two people, and it is something that is unique to them alone.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARCHER, BEHARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ujima Jame
Not bad remake of the Stevie Wonder song, though it would have been better with female vocals in the background throughout. With proper promotion, this could have been a hit. Shows Billy very well in a contemporary setting and he does his thing! Also noteworthy; his remakes of The Four Tops' "Ask The Lonely" and Stevie's "My Cherie Amour."
rickydfcc77
(I wonder why) Nobody Loves Me is another example of Mr B. singing contemporary Motown material; one of his only original songs in that vein