Born in South Memphis, Tennessee, Jones was a child prodigy, playing the oboe, saxophone, trombone, and piano at school and serving as organist at his church. He attended Booker T. Washington High School, the alma mater of Rufus Thomas and shared the hallowed halls with future stars like Isaac Hayes's writing partner David Porter; saxophonist Andrew Love of The Memphis Horns; soul singer/songwriter William Bell and Earth, Wind, and Fire's Maurice White.
Jones's first entry into professional music came at age sixteen, when he played baritone saxophone on Satellite (soon to be Stax) Records' first hit, "Cause I Love You", by Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas.
While hanging around the Satellite Record Shop run by Estelle Axton, co-owner of Satellite Records with her brother Jim Stewart, Jones met record clerk Steve Cropper, who would become one of the MGs when the group formed in 1962. Besides Jones on organ and Cropper on guitar, Booker T. and the MGs featured Lewie Steinberg on bass guitar and Al Jackson, Jr. on drums (Donald "Duck" Dunn eventually replacing Steinberg). While still in high school, Jones wrote the group's instrumental "Green Onions", which not only became a hit in 1962, but remains an enduring classic more than 40 years later.
Over the next few years, Jones would divide his time between studying classical music composition, composing and transposition at Indiana University, playing with the MGs on the weekends back in Memphis[1], serving as a session musician with other Stax acts, and writing songs that would become classics. He wrote, with Eddie Floyd, "I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)", Otis Redding's "I Love You More Than Words Can Say", and, with William Bell, Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign." The latter would later be popularized in the cover version by power trio Cream.
In 1970, Jones moved to California and stopped playing sessions for Stax, after becoming frustrated with Stax's treatment of the MGs as employees rather than musicians. While still under contract to Stax, he appeared on Stephen Stills' eponymous album (1970). The 1971 album, Melting Pot would be the last Booker T. & the MGs album issued on Stax.
Jones produced three albums with his former wife, under the name Booker T. & Priscilla, as well as making the charts as a solo artist in 1981 with "I Want You". He produced Priscilla's sister Rita Coolidge, Bill Withers's debut album Just As I Am (on which he also played several instruments), and Willie Nelson's album Stardust. He has also lent his trademark keyboards to everyone from Ray Charles to Neil Young to Natalie Merchant. Jones currently still plays with Booker T. & the MGs and his own Booker T. Jones Band.
Jones was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and was honored with a Grammy award for lifetime achievement on February 11, 2007.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Broken Heart
Booker T. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly picking up their knives
On the way to the fight
Tonight they want revenge
Beautiful soldiers in their beds
Making love inside their hands
With no chance to defend
With the weapons in their hands
And their eyes closed as they stand
Can they end it all tonight so easily?
Did the darkness of their days
Make them let go of their light?
Will they want to find a way
To make it all right?
When the beautiful awake
See the sadness in their eyes
Will they want to find a way
To make it all right
To make it all right?
Only the fallen need to rise
What if lightning strikes them twice?
Will they give up on their lives
And finally divide?
Did the darkness of their days
Make them let go of their light?
Can they ever find a way
To sleep side by side?
When the beautiful awake
See the sadness in their eyes
Will they ever find a way
To sleep side by side
To sleep side by side
To sleep side by side?
In the opening verse of "Broken Heart," Booker T. Jones sets a haunting scene of individuals consumed by heartbreak and desperation. The imagery of "broken hearts of the night" carrying knives and seeking revenge evokes a sense of betrayal and emotional turmoil. The depiction of "beautiful soldiers in their beds" making love with no chance to defend hints at vulnerability and helplessness in the face of impending conflict. This setting of inner turmoil and external strife creates a tense atmosphere that sets the stage for a deeper exploration of pain and longing.
As the lyrics progress, the focus shifts to the internal struggles of the characters as they grapple with their own demons. The mention of "weapons in their hands" and closed eyes suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance of their fate. There is a poignant question raised about the impact of past trauma on their current state of mind, as the darkness of their days is juxtaposed with the possibility of finding light and redemption. The theme of inner conflict and the potential for self-destructive behavior is palpable, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
The lyrics further delve into themes of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The idea that "only the fallen need to rise" speaks to the notion of overcoming obstacles and finding strength in times of weakness. The contemplation of giving up on life and the internal struggle of whether to continue or succumb to despair adds a sense of urgency and introspection to the song. The repeated questioning of whether they can find a way to coexist and find peace hints at a longing for resolution and unity amid the chaos and strife.
In the final verses, there is a glimmer of hope as the focus shifts towards the possibility of reconciliation and healing. The acknowledgment of sadness in the eyes of the beautiful awakens a sense of empathy and understanding. The desire to make things right and find a way to sleep side by side symbolizes a yearning for connection and unity despite past pain and division. The repeated refrain underscores the central theme of seeking resolution and finding solace in each other's company, ultimately offering a message of hope and reconciliation amidst the turmoil and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Little broken hearts of the night
Fragile emotions in the dark
Slowly picking up their knives
Gearing up for emotional battle
On the way to the fight
Headed towards confrontation
Tonight they want revenge
Seeking retribution now
Beautiful soldiers in their beds
Vulnerable individuals
Making love inside their hands
Trying to protect their hearts
With no chance to defend
Unable to shield themselves
Tonight could be their end
This night could bring closure
With the weapons in their hands
Armed with emotional pain
And their eyes closed as they stand
Facing the situation blindly
Can they end it all tonight so easily?
Will they resolve their issues effortlessly?
Did the darkness of their days
Have past troubles cloud their minds?
Make them let go of their light?
Cause them to lose hope?
Will they want to find a way
Seek a path to healing
To make it all right?
To find peace and resolution
When the beautiful awake
Once their true selves emerge
See the sadness in their eyes
Confront their inner pain
Will they want to find a way
Be motivated to seek a solution
To make it all right
To mend the brokenness
Only the fallen need to rise
Those who have hit rock bottom must recover
What if lightning strikes them twice?
If challenges come back unexpectedly
Will they give up on their lives
Surrender to despair
And finally divide?
Or find a way to overcome
Can they ever find a way
Is there hope for resolution
To sleep side by side?
To find harmony and peace
To sleep side by side
To exist in unity and comfort
To sleep side by side
To be in harmony and connection
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Burton, Norah Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
davideamaral
Damm, what a great music and a wonderfull album!!!
Aderito Matsimbe
Love this song!
Leotis Abrams
This is what Music is supposed to sound like, Thank You Booker T Jones
Cleo Rasile
What a great song!
J_Souls_ Journey
Why is there a dislike button for this? It makes me smile everytime I hear it.
Northy
such a good feel song to relax to after a hard day of work
Nuveau Sapiens
What a great album! Thanks BTJ!
Paulo Jesus
Damm, Jay James is always surprising me. Very good.
Abs D
Great stuff
Wolfgang Corts
Schön, das es noch guten Soul gibt