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.
You Rascal You
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you (you rascal you)
When they bury you six feet deep, no more fried chicken will you eat
Be glad when you're dead, you rascal you
I'll be also glad when you die, you rascal you
I'll be glad when you die, you rascal you
I'll be standin' on the corner full of Gin, when they drag your dead body in
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you
I'll be also glad when you're dead, you rascal you (you rascal you)
Well, I took you to my home, you wouldn't leave my wife alone
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you
I'll be also glad when you're dead, you dirty rascal you
Be also glad when you're dead, you rascal you
What's this thing you got that, makes my wife think you so hot
You dirty dog
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, ah you
The song "You Rascal You" by Cab Calloway is a playful yet slightly malicious tune, in which Calloway sings about his distaste for a certain individual - the "rascal" of the title. The song begins with Calloway vocalizing that he will be pleased when the rascal in question is dead. There is a sense of pent-up frustration throughout the song, and it becomes clear that the rascal in question has come into Calloway's home and attempted to make advances on his woman. The playful tone of the song belies the seriousness of the situation - Calloway is essentially threatening the rascal, who seems to have caused him a great deal of distress.
The chorus of the song repeats that Calloway will be "glad when you're dead, you rascal you," with Calloway adding that he will be "tickled to death" when the rascal is gone. It's clear that Calloway is holding a grudge against this person, and that his anger has been brewing for some time. The lyrics are biting and sarcastic, with a sense of Calloway's wit and intelligence shining through even as he expresses his displeasure with the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, uh huh
I can't wait for you to die, you terrible person
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, oh yeah
I'll be so happy when you're gone
Well, I let into my home, you gonna leave my woman alone
I made the mistake of letting you in my house, but you better not touch my woman
When you leave this earth it's true, oh yeah
It's a fact that when you die, I'll finally be happy
When you're lyin' down six feet deep, no more fried chicken will you eat
Once you're buried, you won't be able to enjoy fried chicken anymore
Ah, you just ain't no good
You're just a bad person
Oh, you dog, now listen here
Hey you, listen up
I'll be standin' on the corner high, when they drag your body by
I'll be celebrating on the street corner when I see your dead body being taken away
I'll be glad when you're dead, you know I'm gonna be so happy
I'll be extremely happy when you die
When you're gone you dog
Once you're gone, you won't be missed
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you
I'll be thrilled when you die
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sam Theard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joannabrown5577
How could anyone give Cab a thumbs down?
@TheBee87bee
They are Prudes,my friend!
@lehormeius3653
Absolutely amazing!
@levis6945
I love when Sammy Davis jr was a kid sing this song watching him at that age you couldn’t help by see that he was born with a special talent to sing dance act and whatever else could do..
@mmmMatto
I have no way of playing it, but I got a shellac 78 of this song at a garage sale once. "Some Of These Days" is on the B side.
@philipvitale6555
I love this song. I've listened to Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Carrie Smith with Wynton Marsalis and now Cab Calloway's version. I can't help but think this should be addressed to a particular current despicable political figure.
@tannercolegrove122
Trump?
@lastknowngood0
@TANNER COLEGROVE kim
@AllStarBugler
I got hang out with Cab a couple of times. I asked him what his instrument was. He said "the saxophone". So I wonder if this is Cab playing the sax?
@kaiserswaghelmii9361
What saxophone? That's a Clarinet being slap tongued. Look up Wilton Crawly... In fact it wouldn't surprise me if that WAS him in this recording.