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.
Ol Man River
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That ol' man river
He don't say nothing
But he must know something
Cause he just keeps rolling
He keeps rolling along
Rollin' along
He don't plant tators
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rolling along
You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And wracked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail
I gets weary
Sick of trying
I'm tired of living
Feared of dying
But ol' man river
He's rolling along
The song Ol' Man River by Bix Beiderbecke, Lou Raderman & His Pelham Heath Inn Orchestra is a poignant expression of the journey of life and the unrelenting nature of time. The lyrics suggest that despite the challenges and hardships experienced by people, the river keeps rolling along, silently observing and perhaps even knowing more than it lets on. The contrast between the river's silent and powerful existence and the often fruitless, monotonous toil of human beings is highlighted in the lines, "He don't say nothing, but he must know something, 'cause he just keeps rolling, he keeps rolling along, rolling along."
The lyrics also reference the historical context of slavery in the USA, as evidenced by the lines "He don't plant tators, he don't plant cotton, them that plants 'em is soon forgotten," which suggests that the river, like slavery, is a constant presence that endures despite the changing fortunes of human beings. The verse about sweat, strain, and pain highlights the exhausting and often dangerous work of those who toil on the river, while the talk of being weary and tired of living alludes to the struggle for survival in difficult circumstances.
Overall, Ol' Man River is a bittersweet song about the passage of time, the cyclical nature of life, and the contrast between the relentless force of nature and the often-fruitless struggles of human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Ol' man river
The river is old
That ol' man river
The river has been around for a long time
He don't say nothing
The river is silent
But he must know something
The river holds secrets and knowledge
Cause he just keeps rolling
The river continues to flow
He keeps rolling along
The river's flow never stops
Rollin' along
The river is in constant motion
He don't plant tators
The river does not plant potatoes
He don't plant cotton
The river does not plant cotton
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
Farmers who plant crops are easily replaceable
But ol' man river
Despite not doing anything, the river persists
He keeps rolling along
The river's flow never stops
You and me
Refers to the human condition
We sweat and strain
We work hard and endure physical discomfort
Body all aching
Our bodies hurt
And wracked with pain
We experience mental and emotional stress
Tote that barge
Carry that heavy load
Lift that bale
Lift that heavy load
Get a little drunk
Drink alcohol to cope with the hardships of life
And you land in jail
Drinking can lead to criminal activity and punishment
I gets weary
I become tired
Sick of trying
I am disheartened by the lack of progress
I'm tired of living
I am worn out and do not want to continue living
Feared of dying
I am scared of death
But ol' man river
Despite the human condition, the river persists
He's rolling along
The river's flow never stops
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam Mckinstry
Davenport hasn't changed that much since the postcards. The main feature is that it has been 'malled' and shoppers are few and far between... but still the haunts of Bix are there. The Town Hall, Wells Fargo Bank stick in the memory as does the railway station, which Bix must have used, including the seats you can still sit on!
saabturbografx
great rendition!
bob boscarato
Very relaxed version!
Solet
Fantàstica versió
John Coffin
Just two days before ('Dusky Stevedore'/'Bless You Sister') Bix sounded tired and sloppy. Back to normal on the 7th.
Adrian Heenan
RANK'S CONTRIBUTION IS OUTSTANDING
johnsenwithane
Disagree. He's doing it right after suffering through Whiteman's abomination with Bing in January.
saabturbografx
i'm related to Eddie Condon