He was born in Los Angeles in 1921 and was raised locally as the Central Avenue jazz scene was beginning to coalesce. In the 1940s, he performed with Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He appears in the "March Milastaire" number in the film You'll Never Get Rich (1941) as part of the backing group supporting Fred Astaire. He was one of the original members of the Gerry Mulligan quartet of the early 1950s. During the late 1950s, Hamilton pioneered a style sometimes called chamber jazz. He performed on the soundtrack of the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope film, "The Road to Bali" and on a number of tours with Lena Horne. In 1958, he brought Eric Dolphy to wider prominence.
The group changed directions in the 1960s. New talents such as saxophonist Charles Lloyd and guitarists Gabor Szabo and Larry Coryell started out performing with him. He composed the soundtracks for films such as Roman Polanski's "Repulsion".
Over the years, Hamilton has performed with legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole.
Hamilton died aged 92 on November 25, 2013 in Manhattan.[15] Hamilton was survived by his daughter (Denise), a brother, a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters. His wife, Helen, and his brother Bernie, an actor who starred in Starsky and Hutch, both died in 2008.[16]
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Chico Hamilton among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[17]
It Don't Mean a Thing
Chico Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
The lyrics to Chico Hamilton & Eric Dolphy's song "It Don't Mean A Thing" are a testament to the power of swing music. The song talks about how swing is the most important element of any song, and if it doesn't have that special rhythm, it simply doesn't matter how sweet or hot it sounds, it won't be appreciated. The song is a celebration of the jazz music genre and the swing era in particular.
The opening lines of the song emphasize this point, stating that if a piece of music doesn't have that swing, it doesn't mean a thing. The lyrics make it clear that it doesn't matter what kind of song it is – it could be slow or fast, sweet or hot – as long as it has that swing. And what is that swing? It's the beat, the rhythm, the way the song flows and moves. The lyrics encourage the listener to give that rhythm "everything you got" to make the song truly swing.
The repetition of the "doo wah" refrain creates a catchy and infectious melody that inspires the listener to tap their toes and get up and dance. The song's lyrics also capture the spirit of the times, where swing music was at its height of popularity, and the world was on the brink of war. The bouncy and upbeat melody of the song is a reminder that despite the challenges, life is still worth celebrating and enjoying.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't mean a thing
If it doesn't have a certain quality, it's not worth much
If it ain't got that swing
If it doesn't have a certain rhythm or energy
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
It don't mean a thing
If it doesn't have a certain quality, it's not worth much
All you got to do is sing
The answer or solution is simple
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
It makes no diff'rence
It doesn't matter
If it's sweet or hot
Regardless of the taste or style
Just give that rhythm
Put all your effort into the beat or tempo
Ev'rything you got
Put all your energy and talent into it
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it doesn't have a certain quality, it's not worth much
If it ain't got that swing
If it doesn't have a certain rhythm or energy
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Just a repeating sound, emphasizing the point being made
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind