Moore's formal musical training began at twelve, first on trombone, then clarinet before switching to tenor saxophone. Inspired by the style of Lester Young (aka Prez or Pres), he got his first professional experience playing in a Texas territorial band the summer before entering college.
Moore left the University of Mississippi in his first year to pursue a performing career, with stints in New Orleans, Memphis and New York City (twice) between 1942-47. In New York he first heard the new music called bebop. As one who idolized Young (he even held his horn at the same unorthodox 120 degree angle), Moore was at first uncomfortable with it, but as he recalled for New York Times critic John Wilson in 1968: "When I heard what Bird (Charlie Parker) had done for himself, I realized that Pres was not the complete messiah. So I combined Bird and Pres and my own thing."
Returning to New York in 1948, Moore became a fixture on the city's vibrant jazz scene, cutting his first album as a leader ("Brew Moore and His Playboys,"Savoy Records) and working with Machito's orchestra and Claude Thornhill's Big Band, the Kai Winding sextet, Stan Getz and George Wallington among others. In 1949 he joined three of the "four brothers" from Woody Herman's celebrated Second Herd (Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn) plus Allen Eager in a session that resulted in the album "Brothers and Other Mothers" for the Savoy Label. And in the early 50s he gigged with Bird and other beboppers of note at venues like Birdland. Pianist Gene DiNovi described him as "a natural player. I remember him saying once that you should come to the saxophone as a child would—pick it up and blow. He had blond, straw-colored hair. Always with a farmer's cow-lick sticking up. He was a very simple, lovely person."
He left New York in 1954 for the West Coast, settling eventually in San Francisco where he found a congenial environment, fitting well into the beat generation culture personified by one of his acknowledged admirers, Jack Kerouac. [4] In 1959 the heavy drinking that had early on given him his nickname took its toll, and he withdrew from the scene. He subsequently resurfaced in Europe. Based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, he would, with the exception of three years in New York (1967-70), continue to perform there for the rest of his life, teaming with such notable fellow ex-pats as Kenny Drew and Sahib Shihab as well as European stalwarts Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Alex Riel. In August 1973, back in Copenhagen from a trip home to settle his late father's affairs (and, ironically, after years of economic uncertainty coming into a substantial inheritance), he fell down a flight of stairs in Tivoli Gardens after a characteristically bibulous night and suffered the injuries that caused his death.
Fools Rush In
Brew Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to say
A game I thought I'd never play
"Romance is a game for fools"
I said and grinned
Then you passed by
And here am I
Throwing caution to the wind
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
And so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head.
Though I see the danger there
If there's a chance for me, then I don't care
Mm-mm-mm-mm
Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love, so how are they to know?
When we met, I felt my life begin
So open up your heart and let this fool rush in
Fools rush in where wise men never, never, never go
Eh, but wise men never fall in love, so how are they to know?
Ah, when we met, girl, I felt my life begin
So open up your heart and let this fool rush in
Just open up your heart and let this fool rush on in
Just open up your heart because I-I-I-I-I-I-I am coming in
Open up your heart and let this fool rush in!
The lyrics of "Fools Rush In" by Brew Moore seem to be about the singer's initial reluctance to engage in romance because he thought it was a game for fools, but he ends up being drawn in by the love he feels for someone. "Romance is a game for fools, I used to say.." he sings, implying that he was against the idea of falling in love. However, when he meets someone special who catches his eye, he throws caution to the wind and decides to take the risk. The chorus, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread and so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head," portrays his realization that he is taking a huge risk by falling in love, but he does it anyway because he is willing to take that chance.
The lyrics use a common saying, "fools rush in where angels fear to tread," which refers to the idea that some people take risks that others would deem irrational. This lyric suggests that the singer is aware of the potential danger involved in pursuing this love, but he's willing to do it anyway. The use of "wise men" in the second verse implies that being too cautious can prevent people from ever experiencing true love. The final verse reiterates the importance of being open to love, even if it means risking being called a fool.
Line by Line Meaning
Romance is a game for fools
I used to say, believing that love was something frivolous and unnecessary
A game I thought I'd never play
I believed that I was too wise to fall for the trap of love
"Romance is a game for fools" I said and grinned
I was proud of my cynical attitude towards relationships
Then you passed by
But then I met you
And here am I, throwing caution to the wind
And now I find myself disregarding my own advice and taking a risk on love
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Foolish people often take risks that more knowledgeable and cautious people would avoid
And so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head.
I am taking a chance on love, even though it may not be the wisest decision
Though I see the danger there
I am aware of the potential consequences of opening up my heart to love
If there's a chance for me, then I don't care
But I am willing to take a risk on love, because the reward could be worth it
Fools rush in where wise men never go
Foolish people often do things that more knowledgeable and cautious people would avoid
But wise men never fall in love, so how are they to know?
But wise people, who are more cautious and analytical, often miss out on the emotional depth and fulfillment of romantic love
When we met, I felt my life begin
When I met you, I felt like my life finally had meaning and purpose
So open up your heart and let this fool rush in
I am asking you to take a risk on love with me, even though it may not be the most rational decision
Just open up your heart and let this fool rush on in
I am asking you to be vulnerable with me, and to trust that my love for you is pure
Just open up your heart because I-I-I-I-I-I-I am coming in
I am asking you to let me into your life and to share in the joy and pain of being in a relationship
Open up your heart and let this fool rush in!
I am asking you to take a leap of faith on love, with me by your side
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pappawheely
great player jazz at its finest
Ezra Dickey
Happy birthday to Brew Moore! March 26th.