Chick Webb represented the triumph of the human spirit in jazz and life. Hunchbacked, small in stature, almost a dwarf with a large face and broad shoulders, Webb fought off congenital tuberculosis of the spine in order to become one of the most competitive drummers and band leaders of the big band era. Perched high upon a platform, he used custom-made pedals, goose-neck cymbal holders, a 28-inch bass drum and a wide variety of other percussion instruments to create thundering solos of a complexity and energy that paved the way for Buddy Rich (who studied Webb intensely) and Louie Bellson.
William Henry Webb bought his first set of drums with his earnings as a newsboy, and he began playing in bands on pleasure boats. After moving to New York in 1925, he led bands in various clubs before settling in for long regular runs at the Savoy beginning in 1931. Although Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges played with the band early on, the Webb band was oddly short on major soloists during its heyday from the mid-'30s onward; the young alto sax player Louis Jordan made the biggest impression after leaving the band. But the band made up for it with a crisp ensemble sound, Webb's disciplined, ferociously driving drum pyrotechnics, trumpeter Taft Jordan's impressions of Louis Armstrong, and most of all, a series of strong compositions and charts by Edgar Sampson ("Blue Lou" and "Stomping at the Savoy" among them). In 1935, Webb hired the teenaged Ella Fitzgerald after she won a talent contest at the Apollo Theatre, became her legal guardian, and rebuilt his show around the singer, who provided him with his biggest hit record, "A Tisket-A-Tasket," in 1938. The band's fame continued to grow, fueled by its reputation as a giant-killer in the Savoy battles and a continuous string of Decca 78s that featured such irresistible numbers as "T'aint What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" and the B-side of "Tasket," "Liza." But Webb's precarious health began to give way, and after a major operation in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, he died (his last words reportedly were, "I'm sorry, I've got to go."). After Webb's death, Fitzgerald fronted the the band until it finally broke up in 1942.
Don't Be That Way
Chick Webb Lyrics
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But, darling, don't be blue
Don't cry
Oh, honey, please
Don't be that way
Clouds in the sky
The rain
Will bring the violets of May
Tears are in vain so, honey, please, don't be that way
As long as we
See it through
You'll have me
I'll have you
Sweetheart
Tomorrow is another day
Don't break my heart
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
Don't cry
Oh, honey, please
Don't be that way
Clouds in the sky
Should never make you feel that way
The rain
Will bring the violets of May
Tears in vain
So, honey, please, don't be that way
As long as we
Will see it through
You'll have me
And I'll have you
Sweetheart
Tomorrow is another day
Don't break my heart
Oh, honey, please don't be that way
Don't cry
Don't cry, don't cry
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
Clouds in the sky
Dig those crazy sky
Should never make you feel that way
So don't be that way
Dig the rain
Pitter, pitter, pitter, pitter-patter
Bring the violets of may
Pitter-patter of the rain drops
Tears in vain
Tears, tears
So, honey, please don't be that way
Don't be that way
As long as we
Will see it through
Oh, baby, you'll have me
And I'll have you
Sweetheart
Tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow is another day
Don't break my heart
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
Looky here, baby, don't cry
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
Clouds in the sky
Should never make you feel that way
Yeah, don't cry
Honey, please, don't be that way
Clouds in the sky
Oh, honey, please, don't be that way
No, honey, I'll never be that way
In the song "Don't be that way," Chick Web consoles his lover in a time of sadness. The first stanza talks about how the singer sees April skies in the lover's eyes and tries to cheer them up, saying that they shouldn't be blue. This is followed by the refrain, "don't cry, oh honey, please don't be that way," which is repeated throughout the song. The second stanza talks about how clouds in the sky should never make someone feel that way, and how the rain will bring the violets of May. Finally, the third stanza is a promise that as long as they stick together, everything will be alright, and they will never be apart.
Overall, the song's lyrics are about being there for someone during difficult times, and trying to make them feel better. The singer emphasizes the importance of not dwelling in sadness, but instead looking forward to brighter days ahead. The chorus serves as a comforting reminder to the listener that they are not alone, and that someone cares for them.
Line by Line Meaning
April skies are in your eyes
The singer notices that their lover is feeling down and can see it in their eyes.
But, darling, don't be blue
The singer is reassuring their lover that there's no need to be sad.
Don't cry
The singer is pleading with their lover to stop crying.
Oh, honey, please
The artist is addressing their lover in a loving and affectionate way as they ask them to stop crying.
Clouds in the sky
The artist is acknowledging that there may be problems or obstacles that their lover is facing.
Should never make you feel that way
The singer is reminding their lover that they shouldn't let these problems get them down.
The rain
The singer recognizes that there may be some sadness or pain that their lover is experiencing.
Will bring the violets of May
The artist is hopeful that things will get better in the future, just like the rain in May brings flowers.
Tears are in vain so, honey, please, don't be that way
The artist is telling their lover that crying won't help their situation, and they should try to be more positive.
As long as we
The artist is emphasizing the importance of their relationship and the support they will provide to their lover.
See it through
The singer is determined to work through any difficulties that may arise.
You'll have me
The artist is reassuring their lover that they'll always have their support.
I'll have you
The singer is also emphasizing the importance of their lover's support in return.
Sweetheart
The singer is addressing their lover in a loving way.
Tomorrow is another day
The singer is acknowledging that today may be tough, but there's always hope for a better tomorrow.
Don't break my heart
The artist is expressing their vulnerability and asking their lover not to hurt them.
Dig those crazy sky
The singer is expressing their appreciation for the beauty of the sky.
Pitter, pitter, pitter, pitter-patter
The singer is imitating the sound of rain falling.
Bring the violets of may
Like before, the singer is hopeful that the difficulties their lover is facing will eventually bring something positive.
Tears, tears
The artist is once again acknowledging their lover's sadness.
Don't be that way
The artist is urging their lover to shake off their sadness and be more positive.
Oh, baby, you'll have me
The artist is reminding their lover that they're not alone and have their support.
No, honey, I'll never be that way
The singer is reassuring their lover that they'll always be there for them and won't give up on the relationship.
Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelwilks6268
I had no idea that he made this I love this, Yeah man😆.
@randyhorne1067
Thanks for the great music Mr. Webb
@RoryVanucchi
The great and mostly forgotten Chick Webb
@barbcox1296
yes...and thousands more.....BUT....they can clean all these songs up now....they will live forever....
@fluffshepnetwork7067
@RoryVanucchi Yeah. It's sad, really. No disrespect to Max Roach, Gene Krupa, Elvin Jones, Papa Joe Jones, Philly Joe Jones, or Jimmy Cobb (R.I.P.), but Chick was the G.O.A.T.!
@Garber1956
Chick was the inertia behind the music trends at the Savoy
@juanluiscadenasmeco1702
Solo es olvidado para la gente k no ama a la batería
@larryselinker9372
iconic!
@jourwalis-8875
This is really super!
@Garber1956
The jazz radio show I grew up with on Wis Public Radio centered around Chick, Fletcher H, Bud Shank, Charlie Barnett, Ellington, etc. But Chick didn't promote himself outside of the Savoy, not many photos or movie clips. I found one but you could barely see him.