Brown was born in Mississippi and sang in church as a child. In 1919 her family moved to Chicago and she began studying piano; in the 1920s she began taking gigs in clubs and broadcasted on radio. From the 1930s to the 1950s she toured the United States regularly, recording for Decca Records (among other labels) along the way and recording many humorous, ironic titles such as "Your Feet's Too Big", "Mama Don't Want No Peas and Rice and Coconut Oil" and "The Stuff Is Here and it's Mellow". Her stride piano playing was often compared to Fats Waller.
In the 1940s Brown began to shy from singing bawdy blues songs because of deepening religious beliefs, and in 1953 she retired and became a nurse. She was rediscovered in the 1980s after being tracked down by Marian McPartland; she returned to record again and performed on National Public Radio. She died in 1995 in Denver, Colorado.
Some of Brown's earliest recordings have been reissued by Document Records.
Latch On
Cleo Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to tell you, cats, just one thing,
Tune up for this rhythm jamboree!
You trumpets sound your A,
Trombones sound your B,
Latch on, everybody, follow me!
Not so hot, but the music's swell!
When I get through, that's your cue,
Everybody latch on!
I'm gonna sing one, sweet and hot,
I'm gonna give it everything I've got,
When I get through, singin' this song,
Everybody latch on!
Let me hear the saxophones singin',
Trumpets hit it high and stingin',
Rhythm section, you can bring,
Latch on, everybody, let me hear you swing.
Push the valves and hold 'em down,
Hear that music go round and round,
'Cause I'm gettin' ready to go to town,
Everybody latch on!
I got a song to sing, a song to sell,
Not so hot, but the music's swell!
When I get through, that's your cue,
Everybody latch on!
I'm gonna sing one, sweet and hot,
I'm gonna give it everything I've got,
When I get through singin' this song,
Everybody latch on!
Let me hear the saxophones singin',
Trumpets hit it high and stingin',
Rhythm section, you can bring,
Latch on, everybody, let me hear you swing.
Push the valves and hold 'em down,
Hear that music go round and round,
'Cause I'm gettin' ready to go to town,
Everybody ltach on!
The lyrics of Cleo Brown's song "Latch On" are a call to action to the other musicians to get ready to play at a "rhythm jamboree." The song's main message is that once Brown starts singing, everyone should follow her lead and latch on to the music. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with Brown announcing that she has a song to sing and the music is swell. Brown encourages the trumpets to sound their A and the trombones to sound their B to get everyone in tune.
Brown's vocal performance is impressive, as she sings about giving the song everything she's got. The second verse begins with a focus on the saxophones and trumpets before urging the rhythm section to bring their sound. The call to action is repeated, with Brown telling everyone to latch on and get ready to swing. The repetition of "Let me hear you swing" highlights the infectious nature of swing music and the importance of everyone being in sync.
Overall, the lyrics of "Latch On" are centered on the power of music to bring people together and create something special. Brown's energetic and enthusiastic delivery adds to the song's upbeat and joyful feel, making it a classic example of the genre and a testament to Brown's talent.
Line by Line Meaning
Just before we start to swing,
Right before we begin playing music with a swing rhythm,
I want to tell you, cats, just one thing,
I want to give you a piece of advice, my fellow musicians,
Tune up for this rhythm jamboree!
Get ready for this exciting music celebration by tuning your instruments!
You trumpets sound your A,
Trumpet players, play the note 'A' on your instrument,
Trombones sound your B,
Trombone players, play the note 'B' on your instrument,
Latch on, everybody, follow me!
Everyone, connect with the musical rhythm and follow my lead!
I got a song to sing, a song to sell,
I have a song to perform and promote,
Not so hot, but the music's swell!
The song may not be perfect, but the music is fantastic!
When I get through, that's your cue,
When I finish performing, it's your turn to start playing!
Everybody latch on!
Everyone, grab hold of the rhythm and join in!
I'm gonna sing one, sweet and hot,
I'm going to sing a delightful and exciting song,
I'm gonna give it everything I've got,
I'm going to put all of my energy and talent into it,
When I get through singin' this song,
Once I finish performing this song,
Everybody latch on!
Everyone, connect with the music and join the rhythm!
Let me hear the saxophones singin',
I want to hear the saxophones playing their tunes,
Trumpets hit it high and stingin',
Trumpets, play those high notes loudly and with energy,
Rhythm section, you can bring,
The rhythm section, you bring in your tunes,
Latch on, everybody, let me hear you swing.
Everyone, connect with the rhythm and start playing with a swing style!
Push the valves and hold 'em down,
Play the notes by pressing down the trumpet valves,
Hear that music go round and round,
Listen to that music with the circular rhythm,
'Cause I'm gettin' ready to go to town,
Because I'm about to perform in the town,
Everybody latch on!
Everyone, connect with the rhythm of the music and join in the fun!
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.