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.
Royal Garden BGlues
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll start in dog-walkin' no matter where.
There's jazz-copation blues modulation,
Just like a Haitian you'll rip and tear.
Most everybody likes the blues
Here's why I'm ravin', here's why I'm ravin'
If it's blues you are cravin' just come on down.
Soon you'll be sayin', "Hon jazz me 'round"
Because your feet they can't refuse.
What's that familiar strain that true blue note refrain
It's drivin' me insane,
Can't keep still, tho' it's against my will;
I'm on my P's and Q's I just can't refuse.
There goes that melody, it sounds so good to me,
And I am up a tree,
It's a shame, you don't know the name;
It's a brand new blues,
The Royal Garden Blues.
Everybody grab somebody And start jazzing 'round
Hon don't you hear that trombone moan?
Just listen to that saxophone.
Gee, hear that clarinet and flute,
Cornet jazzin' with a mute,
Makes me just throw myself away,
When I hear 'em play.
That weepin' melancholy strain,
Say, but it's soothing to the brain;
Just wanna get right up and dance,
Don't care I'll take most any chance;
No other blues I'd care to choose,
But Royal Garden Blues.
The lyrics to Bix Beiderbecke's song "Royal Garden Blues" describe the joy and excitement that comes with listening to jazz music. The opening lines emphasize the power of jazz to make you move and dance, no matter where you are or what you're doing. The song then celebrates the unique qualities of jazz music, with its intricate rhythms, soulful melodies, and expressive instrumentation.
The chorus of the song invites listeners to come and experience the joy of jazz for themselves, promising that they will be hooked from the first note. The lyrics also highlight the power of jazz to create an intense emotional response in listeners, with lines like "That weepin' melancholy strain, Say, but it's soothing to the brain."
Overall, the lyrics of "Royal Garden Blues" celebrate the power and beauty of jazz music and invite listeners to join in the fun and excitement of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
No use of talkin' no use of talkin'
Talking is useless, we should just act
You'll start in dog-walkin' no matter where.
Regardless of where you are, you will start moving to the rhythm like a dog walking
There's jazz-copation blues modulation,
The rhythm has a mixture of jazz, blues and modulation
Just like a Haitian you'll rip and tear.
The rhythm will make you dance so hard that you will rip and tear your clothes like a person from Haiti
Most everybody likes the blues
The majority of people enjoy blues music
Here's why I'm ravin', here's why I'm ravin'
I am excited and enthusiastic about this
If it's blues you are cravin' just come on down.
If you want to hear some blues music, come here
You'll hear 'em playin', you'll hear 'em playin'
You will hear musicians playing the music
Soon you'll be sayin', "Hon jazz me 'round"
You will soon ask your partner to dance
Because your feet they can't refuse.
You won't be able to resist dancing because the music is so good
What's that familiar strain that true blue note refrain
What is that familiar melody with the true blue note?
It's drivin' me insane,
It is making me crazy with excitement
Can't keep still, tho' it's against my will;
I can't help but move even though I'm trying to stay still
I'm on my P's and Q's I just can't refuse.
I am on my best behavior, but I can't resist dancing
There goes that melody, it sounds so good to me,
That melody sounds amazing to me
And I am up a tree,
I am so excited and full of energy
It's a shame, you don't know the name;
It is a pity that you do not know the name of the song
It's a brand new blues,
This is a new type of blues music
The Royal Garden Blues.
This is called The Royal Garden Blues
Everybody grab somebody And start jazzing 'round
Everyone should grab a partner and start dancing
Hon don't you hear that trombone moan?
Do you hear the trombone playing?
Just listen to that saxophone.
Listen to the saxophone playing
Gee, hear that clarinet and flute,
Listen to the sound of the clarinet and flute
Cornet jazzin' with a mute,
The cornet is playing with a mute which sounds cool
Makes me just throw myself away,
It makes me want to lose myself in the music
When I hear 'em play.
I love listening to them play
That weepin' melancholy strain,
The music has a sad yet soothing melody
Say, but it's soothing to the brain;
It is very relaxing to listen to
Just wanna get right up and dance,
I want to start dancing immediately
Don't care I'll take most any chance;
I don't care if I look silly, I just want to dance
No other blues I'd care to choose,
This is the only type of blues I want to listen to
But Royal Garden Blues.
I only want to listen to The Royal Garden Blues
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CLARENCE WILLIAMS, SPENCER WILLIAMS, TED LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vegaphoneprofessiona
Why do so many bands have to play this at break neck speed? Speed is not what's needed, it's feeling. This is THE perfect tempo. Bix and chaps. I salute you.
@gregorykayne6054
I have seen many classic jazz pieces taken at bizarre tempi; fast and slow. People trying to beat the audience over the head with their "virtuosity".
@jackx4311
THUMBS UP!! Playing pieces stupidly fast is just showing off. If the musicians aren't feeling how the piece should be, it's just a bloody noise.
@vegaphoneprofessiona
@Jack X During his Library Of Congress Recordings, Jelly Roll Morton said that playing super fast hid lots of mistakes and hid incompetence. He demonstrated the point by playing Tiger Rag at breakneck speed, then playing it at its original Quadrille/rag speed. During the later, every note has to be spot on because any mistake would be obvious. Super fast it didn’t notice as it almost became a blur.
@jackx4311
@Kevin Scott
That's why my (British) brass band conductor starts every rehearsal with two or three hymns. Even the slightest error - in pitch, note lengths or timing - sticks out like a sore thumb.
@vegaphoneprofessiona
@Jack X Great move.m
@ianstrange2771
Bix's final solo has to be one of the coolest (in the original jazz sense) and lyrical solos ever recorded. Perfect in every note.
@jhb134
Ian Strange - True, and Bill Rank precedes Bix, with one of his better (trombone) solos. Rank is virtually forgotten, by now, but he & Bix were great, together.
@mlodger42
+Ian Strange, You sir, are absolutely correct. Well said. Still my favorite Bix recording.
@jorgealbertopitari6351
Yes... Bill Rank is great...!!!