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.
Bessi Couldn't Help It
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bessie couldn't help it
Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
Bessie couldn't help it though she tried to be good, Oh! So good.
She was pretty as the heavens above
Oh! Boy but how she could love
Bessie had affection that was simply wonderful,terrible
When she smiled you were bound to fall, that's all
A boy kissed Bessie in the parlor one night
Why, oh! Why did she yell with delight
'Cause Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
Aww! Dum pe dum now people listen
Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could or I could
No Bessie couldn't help it though she tried to be good, oh! So good.
She was pretty as the heavens above
And oh! Boy how that girl could love
Bessie had affection that was simply wonderful
Bop, bop be de oww.
Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
Now when she smiled you were bound to fall, that's all. Boy!
Boy kissed Bessie in the street one night
My oh! My how she yelled with delight
Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
The song "Bessie Couldn't Help It" is a playful and lighthearted tune about a woman named Bessie who is simply irresistible. The lyrics emphasize that her actions are not her fault, as she "couldn't help it," and that her beauty and love were too much to resist. The song describes her as being as pretty as the heavens above, with a love and affection that were both wonderful and terrible. Bessie's inability to control herself is portrayed as something that is relatable to everyone, as the refrain repeats "she couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could."
The song is a reflection of the societal expectations placed on women at the time, particularly around their behavior and sexuality. Bessie is seen as a woman who should be trying to be "good, oh! So good," but who is unable to resist her natural desires. The song is also representative of the jazz era, with its lively beat and use of scat singing. It was originally performed by renowned jazz trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke and became a popular tune of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Bessie couldn't help it,
Bessie was unable to control her actions or feelings.
Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
Bessie was not the only one who had trouble controlling their actions or feelings.
Bessie couldn't help it though she tried to be good, Oh! So good.
Despite her efforts to do the right thing, Bessie was unable to resist her impulses.
She was pretty as the heavens above
Bessie was very beautiful.
Oh! Boy but how she could love
Bessie had a strong capacity for affection.
Bessie had affection that was simply wonderful,terrible
Bessie's affection was intense and overwhelming, yet also amazing.
When she smiled you were bound to fall, that's all
Bessie's charm and beauty were irresistible.
A boy kissed Bessie in the parlor one night
Bessie received a kiss from a boy in a room of the house used for entertaining guests.
Why, oh! Why did she yell with delight
Bessie was so overwhelmed with happiness that she shouted out loud.
'Cause Bessie couldn't help it any more than you could, or I could
Bessie's reaction was beyond her control, just as it would be for anyone else.
Aww! Dum pe dum now people listen
The singer is urging the audience to pay attention.
And oh! Boy how that girl could love
Once again, Bessie's capacity for affection is emphasized.
Bop, bop be de oww.
This nonsensical phrase likely serves as a musical interlude.
Now when she smiled you were bound to fall, that's all. Boy!
Bessie's smile was most definitely her greatest weapon.
Boy kissed Bessie in the street one night
A boy kissed Bessie outdoors, away from the house.
My oh! My how she yelled with delight
Bessie's reaction was once again one of pure joy.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BYRON H WARNER, CHARLES A BAYHA, RICHMOND J L
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
msjazzmeblues
Bix's best playing on Take 2 is the ride-out. The opening had some sort of timing glitch, but instead of slouching through it, expecting a re-do, the soloists really outdid themselves. Teagarden's solo was wonderful, Freeman's was fine, Dorsey's was highly original, and Bix took it out swinging, really pushing the beat.
Dugald Gonsal
Inimitable and fabulous 32 bar break by Jack Teagarden almost at the beginningg sets up this fabulous recording! ;-)
BixBix81
Hi David. Nat Gonella recording id very very good. You know - Bix is Bix. His last recording before he passed away, he play 5 tones(not complete scale) I can hear sadness in his playing and those 5 tones nobody in the whole world can play better than him - just five tones. Tomorrow I give information about his last number. Now is a 23 O'clock in Europe and I need to sleep . Bixbix81
dutrekker1617
This was actually Take 1 of the song recorded before the band broke for lunch. During the lunch break, Bix went back to his hotel room, laid down on the bed, and died. When the band came back after lunch, they did another take of the song. They had no idea of what had happened to Bix until almost a week later. Hoagy pleaded with Victor to release take 1 of the song with Bix on it. Victor conceded to Hoagy's request.
Barry I. Grauman
Bix didn't die on September 15, 1930. However, he never recorded after this session again. He continued to drink heavily, and performed in Nat Shilkret's orchestra on radio's "CAMEL PLEASURE HOUR".....and finally returned to Davenport, Iowa, and drank some more. He came back to New York in early 1931, and continued to drown his sorrows while trying to find gigs in pickup bands. Finally, on August 6, 1931, he just collapsed, and died.
Robert Drake
Bix's final recording.
Chris Tyle
Sorry but that's not Chauncey Morehouse on drums, despite what it says in various discographies. It's Gene Krupa. The equipment being played is the same as Gene used on Bix's session on September 8, 1930. The cymbals, snare and bass drums all sound exactly the same, and are played in the same way. Chauncey never played like this. As a drummer friend of my said one time, "Chauncey was a percussionist; Gene was a drummer." This wasn't said to put either man down, but the idea was to describe how different their approach was when playing with a band. Also, I am a drummer and I've listened to this session and Bix's enough to recognize Gene here. He actually said he WAS on the session.
John Whitehead
WQNDERFUL LINE UP PRODUCES WONDERFUL MUSIC
Muffs 55mercury
Original issue: Victor 22864 released in 1932 after Bix's passing.
BixBix81
Hi David. Your reviews are very strange. This is one of the best versions of this song. Nat Gonella may be a good musician, but his playing in comparison to Bix Beiderbecke is just as close to the SUN planet. BIX LIVES / Bixbix81