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.
Heart Of Mine
Chick Webb Lyrics
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That I can call the sun to shine
I'm so afraid there'll be
Another after me
Heart of mine
And yet when I receive your letter
I'm reassured by every line
I hope they still hold true
Heart of mine
Are you on the level?
Do you tell me lies?
I'm between the devil
And your deep blue haunting eyes
I love you so I'd hate to lose you
To me you're something really fine
Don't ever change of heart
Say we'll never part
Heart of mine
The lyrics of Chick Webb's song "Heart of Mine" express the singer's fear of losing the one they love. Although they have received reassurance from their lover's letters, they are still afraid that someone else may come along and take their place in their lover's heart. However, the singer is so deeply in love that they would hate to lose their loved one, who they see as something really fine. The last lines of the song hold a plea for their lover to never change their heart and to never let them go.
Despite the underlying fear expressed by the singer, there is also a strong sense of hope and trust. The singer clings to the reassurance they receive from their lover's letters and shows a willingness to trust that their love is true. However, this trust is always tinged with the fear of loss, as the singer's vulnerability is laid bare.
Overall, "Heart of Mine" is a beautifully written and emotive song that captures the complex emotions of fear and hope that come with falling deeply in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe you really love me
I find it hard to trust that you truly love me
That I can call the sun to shine
Your love has such a powerful effect on me that I feel like I can make anything happen, including making the sun shine
I'm so afraid there'll be another after me
I worry that you'll move on from me and find someone else
Heart of mine
This refers to the artist's own heart, which is desperate for love and affection
And yet when I receive your letter, I'm reassured by every line
Despite my fears, reading your letter brings me comfort and reassurance
I hope they still hold true
I hope the things you wrote in your letter are still true
For me there's only you
I am completely devoted to you and have no interest in anyone else
Are you on the level?
Do you actually mean what you say?
Do you tell me lies?
I am suspicious that you might be deceiving me
I'm between the devil and your deep blue haunting eyes
I am in a difficult position because I am torn between my suspicions and my love for you, which I see reflected in your captivating blue eyes
I love you so I'd hate to lose you
I care for you deeply and the thought of losing you fills me with dread
To me you're something really fine
You are very special to me
Don't ever change of heart
Please remain committed to our relationship
Say we'll never part
Promise me that we will always stay together
Heart of mine
This phrase is repeated to emphasize the singer's continued longing and desperation for love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANCOIS, HEYMAN, WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dasglasperlenspiel10
Great band! Thanks for posting!