Buddy Johnson, (born Woodrow Wilson Johnson in 1915 in Darlington South Car… Read Full Bio ↴Buddy Johnson, (born Woodrow Wilson Johnson in 1915 in Darlington South Carolina, was considered the last of the great negro big band leaders, the king of the one nighters. A prolific composer of rhythm and blues who stayed on the road in his bus playing well over 125 one nighters a year throughout the 1940’s thriving and surviving until finally slowing down in the latter 50’s.

He first appeared on Decca’s “race music” imprint in 1939, and he stayed with the label until 1953, then recording for Mercury until 1958, and his last album was on Roulette in 1958. When not on the road, or in the studio, he had a long standing gig at the Savoy Ballroom in New York City where his popular 17 member band held numerous box office records. Johnson’s musical style was primarily swinging R&B directed towards black audiences, characterized by exhuberant, driving and danceable sounds, often aided by his little sister Ella on vocals or male singer Arthur Prysock who left for a solo career in 1952. His touring group at it’s peak had 4 trumpets including Gil Askey, four trombones including Slide Hampton, five saxophones, string bass, guitar, drums and Johnson directing matters, often from the piano.

As brassy big band R&B sounds fell out of favor, Johnson fought the times and kept a steady road retinue up, particularly in the south, but his sound was perhaps too sophisticated to ever crossover to the modern teeny bop rock n roll crowd. In 1950, at his commercial apex, he told an interviewer of his apathy about the music he had to play to please crowds “Personally I like the classics, but i can’t eat classics.”

Johnson’s band was known as the “Walk ‘Em Rhythm” orchestra which desribed the relaxed pace that encouraged patrons to dance. His music was recorded by other artists as well including The Ink Spots, The Harptones, Lenny Welch, The Sonics, and Nina Simone.

Johnson’s death after a painful battle with a cancerous brain tumor in 1977 triggered an acrimonius legal battle for control of publishing that was lost by his sister and son vs a new common law wife he lived with near the end of his life in Georgia. Buddy’s impoverished sister Ella Johnson who had sung numerous hit Buddy Johnson records and toured with him for two decades, received scant royalties, and lived in public housing until her death in 2004.

My Old Man
Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra Lyrics

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With his long white beard and a crooked staff
He tramps along while the folks all laugh
With a twinkle in his eye, he passes them by
The old man of the mountain

For he wears long hair and his feet are bare
He says he's mad as an old march hare
But his cares are none and he owes no one

The old man of the mountain

He talks with the birds when he's lonely
He sleeps with the stars for a tent
The bees spread a feast when he's hungry
And god charges no rent

He'll live as long as the old oak tree
And laugh at fools like you and me
Oh, I often sigh and wish that I
Were the old man of the mountain

The old man of the mountain

Overall Meaning

Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra's song "My Old Flame" is a ballad about a woman who has had many lovers in her life, but none of them can compare to her old flame. She can't even remember his name, but she is haunted by memories of him and the way he made her feel. The song speaks to the power of first loves and how they can leave a lasting impression on a person's heart.

The lyrics describe how the woman's new lovers are all "so tame" and lack the innocence and elegance of her old flame. She has met many men with fascinating ways and captivating gazes, but none of them can live up to the standards set by her old flame. The song highlights the difference between true love and imitation, and how it is impossible to replicate the feelings of a past relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

My old flame
The person who used to be my love interest

I can't even think of his name
I cannot remember his name, but I still think of him

But it's funny now and then
It's amusing how memories of him still cross my mind

How my thoughts go flashing back again
I find myself reminiscing about him often

My new lovers all seem so tame
Compared to him, my recent partners seem dull and unexciting

For I haven't met a gent
I have not encountered a man

So innocent or elegant
As kind-hearted and refined as he was

I've met so many men
I have encountered numerous suitors

With fascinating ways
They had intriguing personalities

A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Their eyes held a captivating stare

Some who sent me up to the skies
Some made me feel ecstatic and euphoric