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
The Bronx
Booker T. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get's it's flavor from the streets
It's flavor from the streets
I've got weight on my back
Create shift and bend
I've got flavor from the streets
Come take a trip with me
Don't hesitate, just leave
Don't hesitate, just leave
Just leave
In Booker T. Jones's song "The Bronx," the lyrics suggest that the borough of the Bronx has a distinct character that is shaped by its streets. The "flavor from the streets" could refer to the people, the culture, or the physical environment itself. The singer also mentions the weight on their back, which might suggest the burdens they carry as a resident of the Bronx. However, they express a determination to "create shift and bend," implying a willingness to adapt and overcome those challenges.
The final lines of the song urge the listener to "take a trip" with the singer, urging them to leave without hesitation. The repetition of the phrase "just leave" suggests a sense of urgency or necessity. It is possible that the singer is encouraging the listener to experience the Bronx firsthand, rather than relying on preconceptions or stereotypes.
Overall, the song may be seen as a celebration of the resilience and vitality of the Bronx, despite its difficult reputation. It acknowledges the challenges that its residents face, but also recognizes the strength and vibrancy of the community.
Line by Line Meaning
The Bronx
The city of The Bronx is being referred to here.
Get's it's flavor from the streets
The unique and vibrant qualities of The Bronx originate from the daily life and culture of its inhabitants.
It's flavor from the streets
The Bronx's identity is heavily influenced by the people and happenings on its streets.
I've got weight on my back
The artist is carrying a burden or responsibility, possibly as a result of living in The Bronx.
Create shift and bend
To cope with the challenges and struggles of life in The Bronx, one must be adaptable and ready to change their perspective.
I've got flavor from the streets
The singer's own identity is shaped by their experiences and existence within The Bronx's streets and culture.
Come take a trip with me
The singer is inviting the listener to experience The Bronx's unique culture and atmosphere with them.
Don't hesitate, just leave
To fully immerse oneself in The Bronx's culture, one should let go of any reservations or hesitations and simply embrace the journey.
Just leave
The repeated phrase emphasizes the call to action, encouraging listeners to explore and experience The Bronx for themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, LIV JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonathanmitchell9886
Beautiful, evocative, melancholy sound. God, how I still miss Lou Reed.
@dotubeinn
Been listening to Booker T for 50 years and his music still hits that same ole sweet spot.
@mcolli90
What a sound. Lou is so deep
@RikOllie
over, and over, and over again.
@Hvb101
I just can't get enough!
@emesvideo
Booker T. Jones always had some great music. +++
@jameslujack7598
Hey Booker.......Been listening to you since Green Onions. I learned to play organ because I wanted to play Green Onions. Got a Hammond B3 too. My Dad bought it for me because it was too heavy for me to lift to carry it into bars .
@drstevie
Beautiful.
@diffusioncompagnieduhasard3844
Lou Reed :( RIP
@hasseelmerson
Never heard before, great....