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.
Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You came along when everything was wrong and put a song in my heart
Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody
It haunted me from the start
Something inside of me started a symphony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
About a nest set apart
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Your eyes made skies seem blue again
What else could I do again
But keep repeating through and through
"I love you, love you"
I still recall the thrill, guess I always will
I hope 'twill never depart
Dear, with your lips to mine, a rhapsody divine
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody
It haunted me from the start
Something inside of me started a symphony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
'Twas like a breath of spring, I heard a robin sing
About a nest set apart
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Your eyes made skies seem blue again
What else could I do again?
But keep repeating through and through
"I love you, love you"
I still recall the thrill, I guess I always will
I hope 'twill never depart
Dear, with your lips to mine, a rhapsody divine
Zing! Oh, Oh, Oh went the strings of my heart
The beginning of "Zing went the strings of my heart" suggests that the singer was never able to sing or find a tune, but when they met the person they are addressing in the song, everything changed. This person put a song in their heart, and the sound of their voice caused a symphony to start within them. The singer recalls the moment that this person smiled at them, and they heard a melody that haunted them from the start. It was like a breath of spring and all of nature seemed to be in perfect harmony. They describe the feeling as "zing," a sensation that went through the strings of their heart.
The singer compares their feelings to a robin singing about a nest set apart; everything seems to be in perfect harmony when they are with this person. They are deeply in love, and their eyes made the sky seem blue again. The singer is so overwhelmed with their feelings that all they can do is keep repeating "I love you, I love you" over and over again. They recall the thrill of being with this person, and they hope that they will never forget it. Then the singer describes the sensation of the other person's lips on theirs; it was a rhapsody divine, and once again, they felt that "zing" in the strings of their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start
I have never been good at singing or knowing how to create music.
You came along when everything was wrong and put a song in my heart
You arrived during a difficult time in my life and brought joy and music into it.
Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody
Your smile had such a pleasant impact on me that I felt as though I could hear a beautiful tune.
It haunted me from the start
This tune stayed with me and I could not get it out of my head.
Something inside of me started a symphony
Within me, a complex musical arrangement began to take shape as a result of your influence.
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
My emotions were so strong that I felt as though the strings of my heart were being plucked like a instrument.
'Twas like a breath of spring, I heard a robin sing
It was like a warm and refreshing spring day, complete with the pleasant sound of a bird.
About a nest set apart
This bird was singing about a nest which was unique and special.
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
The world around me was peaceful and serene, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
Your eyes made skies seem blue again
Your gorgeous eyes had the power to make everything in the world look beautiful and bright.
What else could I do again
I was so swept up in my feelings that I couldn't do anything else.
But keep repeating through and through
The only thing I wanted to say over and over was how much I loved you.
"I love you, love you"
These words are the only ones that can convey how strongly I feel for you.
I still recall the thrill, I guess I always will
The pleasure I felt when I first fell for you has stayed with me and always will.
I hope 'twill never depart
I hold onto the hope that these feelings will never fade or disappear.
Dear, with your lips to mine, a rhapsody divine
The emotion I feel with your lips on mine is indescribable and incredibly beautiful.
Zing! Oh, Oh, Oh went the strings of my heart
These intense emotions are creating a beautiful music within me that I cannot control.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James F. Hanley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nick Zoohowza
on Jelly, Jelly
The “meaning” of Jelly Jelly seems to have been written by ChatGPT. Surely “jelly”, like “jelly roll” was intended in this song to refer to sex/genitalia, and not something to spread on toast.
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on Kiss Of Fire
Absolutely Absolutely Absolutely Amazing Grace his voice was"GOD"gift to us class jazz lovers listeners u'dig now can you dig dat baby,baby from da'conductor nelfoster from chocolate cle city ohio chocolate rocks...