Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States' most popular big bands, Cab Calloway and his Orchestra, from the start of the 1930s through to the late 1940s. Calloway's band featured performers including trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Doc Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Chu Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
Calloway was born to a middle-class family in Rochester, New York, and lived there until 1918. He later lived in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Cabell Calloway II, was a lawyer, and his mother, Martha Eulalia Reed, was a teacher and church organist. His parents recognised their son's musical talent, and he began private voice lessons in 1922. He continued to study music and voice throughout his formal schooling. Despite his parents' and vocal teachers' disapproval of jazz, Calloway began frequenting and eventually performing in many of Baltimore's jazz clubs, where he was mentored by drummer Chick Webb and pianist Johnny Jones.
After graduating from high school, Calloway joined his older sister, Blanche, in a touring production of the popular black musical revue Plantation Days (Blanche Calloway herself went on to become an accomplished bandleader before her brother did, and he often credited his inspiration to enter show business to her). Calloway attended Lincoln University, Pennsylvania , and left in 1930 without graduating.
When the tour ended in Chicago in the autumn, Cab decided to remain in Chicago with his sister, who had an established career as a jazz singer in that city. His parents had hopes of their son becoming a lawyer like his father, so Calloway enrolled in Crane College. His main interest, however, was in singing and entertaining, and he spent most of his nights at the Dreamland Cafe, the Sunset Cafe, and the Club Berlin, performing as a drummer, singer, and emcee. At the Sunset Cafe he met and performed with Louis Armstrong who taught him to sing in the scat style.
The Cotton Club was the premier jazz venue in the country, and Cab Calloway and his Orchestra (he had taken over a brilliant but failing band called "The Missourians" in 1930) were hired as a replacement for the Duke Ellington Orchestra while they were touring. Calloway quickly proved so popular that his band became the co-house band with Ellington's, and he and his group began touring nationwide when not playing at the Cotton Club. Their popularity was greatly enhanced by the twice-weekly live national radio broadcasts on NBC at the Cotton Club. Calloway also appeared on Walter Winchell's radio program and with Bing Crosby in his show at the Paramount Theatre. As a result of these appearances, Calloway, together with Ellington, broke the major broadcast network colour barrier.
Unlike many other bands of comparable commercial success, Calloway's gave ample soloing space to its lead members, and, through the varied arrangements of Walter 'Foots' Thomas, provided much more in the way of musical interest.
In 1931, he recorded his most famous song, "Minnie the Moocher". That song, together with "St James Infirmary Blues" and "The Old Man of the Mountain", were performed for the Betty Boop animated shorts Minnie the Moocher, Snow White, and The Old Man of the Mountain respectively. Through rotoscoping, Cab not only gave his voice to these cartoons but his dance steps as well. Cab took advantage of this and timed his concerts in some communities with the release of the films in order to make the most of the attention. As a result of the success of "Minnie the Moocher" he became identified with its chorus, gaining the nickname "The Hi De Ho Man". He also performed in a series of short films for Paramount in the 1930s (Calloway and Ellington were featured on film more than any other Jazz Orchestra of the era). In 1943 he appeared in the high-profile 20th Century Fox musical film, Stormy Weather.
In his later career, Calloway became a popular personality, appearing in a number of films and stage productions that utilised both his acting and singing talents. In 1952, he played the prominent role of Sportin' Life in a production of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess. Another notable role was Yeller in The Cincinnati Kid (1965). In 1967 Calloway co-starred as Horace Vandergelder in an all-black revival of Hello, Dolly! (even though the original production was still running) starring Pearl Bailey. This was a major success, and led to a cast recording released by RCA. In 1973-1974 he was featured in an unsuccessful Broadway revival of The Pajama Game.
Calloway attracted renewed interest in 1980 when he appeared as a supporting character in the film The Blues Brothers, performing "Minnie the Moocher", and again when he sang "The Jumpin' Jive" with the Two-Headed Monster on Sesame Street. This was also the year in which the cult film Forbidden Zone was released, which included rearrangements and parodies of Cab Calloway songs written by Danny Elfman, a Calloway fan.
On 18th November 1994 Calloway died, having suffered a major stroke six months earlier. In 1998, The Cab Calloway Orchestra (directed by Cab's grandson C. "CB" Calloway Brooks) was formed to honour Cab Calloway's legacy nationally and internationally.
Gotta Go Places and Do Things
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See new places and brand new things
Gotta go places and do things
Baby to forget you
I've got to stop feeling so low down
Started stepping and seeing the town
Gotta go places and do things
I've been quite in my past life
Never led a very fast life
This time baby ill learn to sin
How to Hi-De-Ho and sip my gin
Gotta go places and see things
See new places and brand new things
Gotta go places and do things
Baby to forget you
In the song "Gotta Go Places and Do Things" by Cab Calloway, the singer expresses his desire to move on from a past relationship by seeking out new experiences and adventures. The repeated refrain of "gotta go places and do things, baby to forget you" highlights the singer's determination to leave behind the pain and memories of his lost love. He acknowledges that he has been living a subdued life up to this point, and now plans to learn to "sin," which may mean simply enjoying his freedom and indulging in pleasures that were previously off-limits.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta go places and do things
I need to get out and experience new things in order to move on from you.
See new places and brand new things
I need to explore unfamiliar territories and discover new experiences to distract myself from thinking about you.
Baby to forget you
I can't think about you anymore and need to find ways to erase you from my memory.
I've got to stop feeling so low down
I can't keep dwelling on my sadness and need to focus on making positive changes in my life.
Started stepping and seeing the town
I'm taking my first steps towards living my life to the fullest by exploring my surroundings.
I've been quite in my past life
I used to lead a quiet and unadventurous life, but that's about to change.
Never led a very fast life
I never took chances, made bold moves, or explored new horizons.
This time baby ill learn to sin
I'm willing to take risks and experience things that I wouldn't have before, even if they're considered 'sinful.'
How to Hi-De-Ho and sip my gin
I'm ready to embrace a more carefree and indulgent lifestyle, even if it's just having a drink and dancing to some Hi-De-Ho music.
Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adrian Estrada
You sir, Mr Pitre, are a legend! Thank you for posting the lyrics. Someone who appreciates that crisp wonderful music of classics.👌👍
Migui Pitre
I gotta go places and do things
See new faces and brand new things
I gotta go places and do things
Baby to forget you
I gotta stop feelin’ so low down
Start in steppin’ and seein’ the town
I gotta go places and do things
Baby to forget you
I’ve been quiet in my past life
Never led a very fast life
This time, baby I’ll learn to sin
How to Hi De Ho and sip my gin
I gotta go places I gotta see things
See new faces and brand new things
I gotta go places and do things
Baby to forget you
[Instrumental to end]<<
Recorded March 1937
Vocalion v3830; Variety VA 612