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.
The Very Thought of You
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The lyrics to Billy Eckstine's song "The Very Thought Of You" express the overwhelming impact that the mere thought of someone can have on the singer. The song captures a sense of being completely consumed by love and experiencing a state of blissful daydreaming. The first verse describes how the very thought of this person makes the singer forget about performing ordinary tasks that everyone should do. It conveys the singer's enchantment with the object of their affection, feeling as happy as a king despite the seemingly foolish nature of such infatuation.
The second verse continues to emphasize the power of the person's presence in the singer's thoughts. Time seems to slow down when they are apart, and every moment feels agonizingly long until the singer can be near them. The singer sees the person's face in every flower and their eyes in the stars above. The very thought of this person becomes the sole focus of their love.
Overall, "The Very Thought Of You" portrays the profound impact that love can have on an individual's thoughts and perception of everyday life. It conveys the overwhelming joy and longing experienced when consumed by the presence of someone deeply loved.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you and I forget to do
When I think about you, I become so consumed that I neglect my responsibilities
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
Even the simplest tasks that are expected of me become insignificant when you are on my mind
I'm living in a kind of daydream
My thoughts of you transport me to a blissful state of imagination
I'm happy as a king
Your presence in my thoughts brings me immeasurable joy and contentment
And foolish though it may seem
Although it may appear illogical or irrational to others
To me that's everything
To me, the mere thought of you holds immense significance and holds my attention fully
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
Just the concept of you, the yearning I have for your presence
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
You cannot comprehend the agonizing slowness of time until I am close to you
I see your face in every flower
The image of your face is reflected in the beauty of every blooming flower
Your eyes in stars above
I perceive the radiance of your eyes within the celestial stars above
It's just the thought of you
It is solely the thought of you, my love
The very thought of you, my love
The mere thought of you, my beloved, consumes and fills my heart with affection
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maryla Piskorska
The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
Hari Madray
Voices such as Billy Eckstein, Arthur Prysock, Johhny Hartman are simply pure gold. How much we miss hearing those great voices with their velvety, smooth tone.. These were truly Manly voices. We truly miss them!! Thank you YouTube for bringing back such memories.
Joe Fitz
Amen...
patrick ryan
Hari Madray: I totally agree w/your observation and appreciate especially your including in your comment Johnny Hartman (listen to his "When I Get The Time"; it's a beautifully transporting type of song and so right for these retirement years that many of us are now experiencing. Have a nice evening - September 2017.
Thebes50
Although this was recorded after Billy's prime, everyone who knows and understands real music will agree that he was one of the greatest crooners that ever lived.
Beth Kennedy
thebes50 o
TheRudydog1
thebes50: I mostly agree but please don't forget that all of the years of experience and living also show up in that older voice of Mr Eckstine's. He also maintains great range and tone. I actually think he may be even better here than in his earlier years. Peace.
Guy Whitlock
In fact I think he was THE best!
Thebes50
Thanks Richard!
Richard Russette
thebes50 you are so right
Jd Jennings
Mr Eckstine, Mr Prysock, Mr Nat Cole, Mr Mathis and the balladeers of that era left us such a great body of work to enjoy. Thanks to them and thanks to those who post these great works today.