It was widely believed, for many years, that Beiderbecke's real name was Leon Bismark Beiderbecke. It is now known that this — like so many other myths about Beiderbecke — is untrue. His real name was Leon Bix Beiderbecke. Bismark was a family name, reflecting the family's German origins, but it was not given to Beiderbecke. "Bix" was a family nickname of his father and older brother, given him as a proper name.
Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa to a middle-class family. As a teenager he would sneak off to the banks of the Mississippi to listen to the bands play on the riverboats that would come up from the south.
Partially due to frequent absences due to illness, Beiderbecke's grades suffered. His parents felt that sending him to the exclusive Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago, would provide the attention and discipline needed to improve his schooling.
Beiderbecke's schooling there soon suffered when the only subjects he showed avid interest in were music and sports. Bix soon began going into Chicago as often as possible to catch the hot jazz bands of the day at clubs and speakeasies around Chicago, and too often didn't return in time or was found out the next day.
Beiderbecke was soon asked to leave the Academy due to his academic failings and extra-curricular activities in Chicago, and began his musical career in earnest.
Beiderbecke first recorded with his band "The Wolverine Orchestra" (usually called just The Wolverines, named for "Wolverine Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton because they played it so often) in 1924, then became a sought-after musician in Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. He made innovative and influential recordings with Frankie Trumbauer ("Tram") and the Jean Goldkette Orchestra. When the Goldkette Orchestra disbanded after their last recording ("In My Merry Oldsmobile"), in May 1927, Bix and Trumbauer, a 'C' Melody and alto saxophone player, briefly joined Adrian Rollini's band at the Club New Yorker, New York, before moving on to the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the most popular and highest paid band of the day.
Beiderbecke suffered health problems from an early age, though the relentless schedule of the road and heavy drinking leading to alcoholism began to contribute to and exacerbate a decline in his health. Bix suffered from severe pain in his legs and other ill effects of prohibition era alcohol and with declining work around the New York City area, he took a turn for the worse.
Though his death certificate described the cause of death as pneumonia, and he was in seriously ill health, the circumstances immediately surrounding his death are still unclear. He died at the age of 28, in his apartment at 43-30 46th Street, Sunnyside, Queens, within the confines of the City of New York on August 6, 1931.
'Tain't So Baby 'Tain't So
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meet a friend of mine, old Aunt Phoebe Law,
She's known to everyone for miles around,
She will help you when friends forsake you and troubles bear you down!
For those who come her way
Are blessed when they hear her say:
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
'Tain't so,
Honey, 'tain't so.
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
Tomorrow will bring something good, I know,
'Tain't so,
I mean, it just ain't so.
Makes no difference what your problem may be,
Just look up, brother, and I'm sure you'll agree.
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
The Devil said yes, but the Lord said no,
'Tain't so,
Honey, 'tain't so.
The song ‘Tain't So Honey 'Tain't So’ by Bix Beiderbecke is about an elderly woman from Arkansas called Aunt Phoebe Law. Aunt Phoebe is a friend to all and has a reputation for helping people when they are in trouble or feeling down. She tells them that their problems are not as bad as they seem and that they should have faith that things will get better. Her words of encouragement are summed up in the phrase ‘’Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so’ which she repeats throughout the song.
The repeated phrase ‘’Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so’ is a form of reassurance to those who hear it. Aunt Phoebe is telling them that their problems are not as big as they seem and that they should not worry as things will get better. The lyrics advise listeners to look up, keep the faith and trust that even when friends have deserted them, Aunt Phoebe will always be there to help. The phrase ‘The Devil said yes, but the Lord said no’ emphasizes this advice, implying that even though it may seem as though things are going wrong, ultimately everything will work out for the best.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, people, you should come to Arkansas,
Come see my friend Aunt Phoebe Law in Arkansas.
Meet a friend of mine, old Aunt Phoebe Law,
My good friend is Aunt Phoebe Law.
She's known to everyone for miles around,
Everyone knows of Aunt Phoebe Law in this area.
She will help you when friends forsake you and troubles bear you down!
If your friends abandon you and your problems seem too much, Aunt Phoebe Law will help you.
For those who come her way
Those who visit her
Are blessed when they hear her say:
Receive her blessings when she says:
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
It isn't true, honey, it just isn't true
Spoke to the Lord and the Lord said no,
She asked the Lord, and He said no.
'Tain't so,
It isn't true.
Honey, 'tain't so.
Darling, it just isn't true.
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
It isn't true, honey, it just isn't true.
Tomorrow will bring something good, I know,
Tomorrow, good things will happen, trust me.
'Tain't so,
It isn't true.
I mean, it just ain't so.
I mean, it just isn't true.
Makes no difference what your problem may be,
No matter what problem you have,
Just look up, brother, and I'm sure you'll agree.
Look to God, and you'll find the answer.
'Tain't so, honey, 'tain't so,
It isn't true, honey, it just isn't true.
The Devil said yes, but the Lord said no,
The Devil said something bad would happen, but the Lord said no.
'Tain't so,
It isn't true.
Honey, 'tain't so.
Darling, it just isn't true.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
brad kay
ONE OF THOSE rare, perfect records where EVERYTHING goes right. Whiteman, the leader. Willard Robison, composer. Bill Challis, arranger. Bing Crosby, singer. Bix Beiderbecke, soloist. Even Trumbauer and his bassoon! - and of course, the Tutti Ensemble. Perfect tempo, instrumental balance and color. Hats off for the crisp, accurate transfer. This record always sounded muddy to me, even directly from the turntable. You somehow found all the latent high frequencies, making it into a whole new experience.
Peter Hendriksma
Bix is at his lyrical best here, I agree with Doc Murph, this is definitely one of my desert island discs too!
Barry I. Grauman
Another great Bill Challis arrangement!
Doc Murph
Thank you for posting. This 78 is my official desert island record!
Darragh Chapman
I went looking for this exact recording, and not only did you provide it, the photos were absolutely wonderful!
I've since watched a few other of your videos and you put out great stuff consistently, so you've earned an instant subscriber! I've seen some photos of musicians I greatly admire but had never seen their faces.
Nick Dellow
Wonderful!