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.
Goose Pimples
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hok ttaeron nugungaga tteut moreul biuseum Nae deungdwie heullilttaedo Nan chamaya haetjyo Chameul su isseotjyo geu nareul wihae
Neul geokjeonghadeut malhajyo Heotdwen kkumeun dogirago Sesangeun kkeuchi jeonghaejin chaekcheoreom Imi dorikkil su eopneun hyeonshirirago
Geuraeyo nan nan kkumi isseoyo Geu kkumeul mideoyo nareul jikkyeobwayo Jeo chagapge seo inneun unmyeoniran byeogape Dangdanghi majuchil su isseoyo
Eonjenga nan geu byeogeul neomgoseo Jeo haneureul nopi nareul su isseoyo I mugeoun sesangdo nareul mukkeul sun eoptjyo Nae salmeui kkeuteseo nan useul geunareul hamkkehaeyo
Neul geokjeonghadeut malhajyo Heotdwen kkumeun dogirago Sesangeun kkeuchi jeonghaejin chaekcheoreom Imi dorikkil su eopneun hyeonshirirago
Geuraeyo nan nan kkumi isseoyo Geu kkumeul mideoyo nareul jikkyeobwayo Jeo chagapge seo inneun unmyeoniran byeogape Dangdanghi majuchil su isseoyo
Eonjenga nan geu byeogeul neomgoseo Jeo haneureul nopi nareul su isseoyo I mugeoun sesangdo nareul mukkeul sun eoptjyo Nae salmeui kkeuteseo nan useul geunareul hamkkehaeyo
The lyrics to Bix Beiderbecke's song "Goose Pimples" convey a dreamlike state where the singer is both incredulous and exhilarated. The line "nan nan kkumi isseotjyo" roughly translates to "I had a dream," and the song immediately conjures up the feeling of being caught in a reverie. The first few lines describe the singer's fear of waking up from the dream and how they are trying to hold onto it despite their fear of it slipping away. The singer is in a state of disbelief and wonder as they struggle to understand the dream's meaning.
As the song progresses, the singer begins to gain more confidence in their dream and becomes more determined to pursue it. They begin to see the dream as a guiding force in their life and become more proactive about making it a reality. The line "heotdwen kkumeun dogirago" translates to "a dream that seemed impossible," and the singer acknowledges that their dream may be difficult to achieve but nevertheless believes in it.
Overall, "Goose Pimples" is a song that captures the feeling of being caught between reality and the surreal. It speaks to the human desire to hold onto moments of beauty and wonder and to pursue our dreams despite their apparent difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
Nan nan kkumi isseotjyo
I had a dream, a dream of my own
Beoryeojigo jjitgyeo namruhayeodo
Even though it disappeared and scattered like snowflakes
Nae gaseum giosukhi bomulgwa gachi
It came and went along with my beating heart
Ganjikhaetteon kkum
My long-cherished dream
Hok ttaeron nugungaga tteut moreul biuseum
Sometimes it's hard to explain to anyone else
Nae deungdwie heullilttaedo
Even if I reveal it to my ears alone
Nan chamaya haetjyo
I've already made up my mind
Chameul su isseotjyo geu nareul wihae
I believed I could achieve that dream
Neul geokjeonghadeut malhajyo
I always say anxiously
Heotdwen kkumeun dogirago
That it's just a meaningless dream
Sesangeun kkeuchi jeonghaejin chaekcheoreom
It's like a book with a clear ending
Imi dorikkil su eopneun hyeonshirirago
And it's a knowledge that cannot be turned back
Geuraeyo nan nan kkumi isseoyo
Yes, I still have that dream
Geu kkumeul mideoyo nareul jikkyeobwayo
I believe in that dream, please remember me
Jeo chagapge seo inneun unmyeoniran byeogape
On the other side of the cliff, the fate that is waiting for me
Dangdanghi majuchil su isseoyo
I can run towards it excitedly
Eonjenga nan geu byeogeul neomgoseo
Sometime in the future, I will cross that boundary
Jeo haneureul nopi nareul su isseoyo
I can soar up to the heavens
I mugeoun sesangdo nareul mukkeul sun eoptjyo
Even this vast world cannot hold me back
Nae salmeui kkeuteseo nan useul geunareul hamkkehaeyo
At the end of my life, I will smile along with that dream
Writer(s): JOE TRENT, FLETCHER HENDERSON
Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jack Flanigan
What a fantastic thing!! Everything about this is wonderful - the music, the photos and most of all the restoration. Good god, you've really outdone yourself. It's incredible!! I love the tune, the solos, and especially the pictures that correspond to the parts being played. Thank you so much for putting this up!!
Rodrigo Cecchetto
Bix and Don Murray are the best duo of early jazz in my opinion. They seem to understand each other in every song they play together.
Wayne Engle
I've been listening to Bix's wonderful records for years, but oddly enough, it's only been during the past few months that the full brilliance of his performing, and that of many of his bandmates, too, burst upon my consciousness like a thunderclap. BIX LIVES!
Matthew de Lacey Davidson
This is truly lovely playing. Do you engineer the 78s yourself? If so – great job! Nice and clear. You can hear all the voices nicely.
Matthew de Lacey Davidson
I won't ask your secret. But your transfers are truly remarkable.
Atticus Jazz
Yes, all transfers and restorations were made by myself. Thanks.
Bruce Kuehn
I guess I'm not sure what a chronic alcoholic should look like but Bix looks like the sweetest guy. Born in 1903 and dead at the age of 28. Imagine if he was still playing in 1973? Think of the duets he could have played with Louis in the 1960s - wow.
Gordon Bainbridge
Bix also played in the state of Indiana. So we're lucky he lasted to 28. Sauve qui peut. Or as they say in Mexico, salsipuedes.
Wayne Engle
Once Bix and several of his bandmates showed up at a theater where Louis and his group were playing one evening. After the show was over, all of them stayed for an all-night jam session. Can you imagine what a recording of that would be worth, if one existed?
Steve Heywood
From what I’ve seen and read..some of the booze in those days was adulterated with methylated spirits and what have you .. and it killed or permanently maimed many people. I think these factors had a hand in killing Bix.