William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984) was a jazz pianist,… Read Full Bio ↴William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984) was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader.

As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title "Splanky" is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.

As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and, of course, Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie's organization.

In addition to Basie, the swinging "All American Rhythm Section" of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax), Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Buck Clayton (trumpet), Thad Jones (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Benny Powell (trombone), and Dicky Wells (trombone).

Basie also collaborated with artists such as Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson, and recorded with ensembles large and small, including the Count Basie Trio, the Count Basie Sextet, and the Kansas City Seven. Notable arrangers included Eddie Durham (who helped shape the Basie Orchestra's sound) and Neal Hefti.

After You've Gone
Count Basie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart

You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?

Listen while I say

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away

After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so

It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Count Basie's song "After You've Gone" express the pain and heartbreak felt by someone whose partner is leaving them. The singer pleads with their partner not to leave and begs them not to break their heart. The lyrics express the singer's deep love for their partner and their feelings of sadness and despair at the thought of being alone.

The chorus warns the person leaving that they will eventually regret their decision and feel the pain of loneliness that the singer is currently experiencing. The final verse is almost menacing in its tone as the singer tells their partner that they will haunt and taunt them after they've gone. The overall message of the song is that leaving someone who loves you is a mistake that will eventually come back to haunt you.

Line by Line Meaning

Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Please pay attention to the words I am about to say, my dear.

How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
I cannot believe that you would say you are leaving me.

Don't say that we must part,
Please don't say we have to break up.

Don't break your baby's heart
Please don't hurt me, your lover.

You know I've loved you for these many years,
You should know that I have loved you deeply for a long time.

Loved you night and day,
I have loved you every moment of my life.

Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
My love for you makes me cry, can't you see?

Listen while I say
Pay attention to what I am saying.

After you've gone and left me cryin'
Once you leave me and I am crying,

After you've gone there's no denyin'
Once you are gone, it is an undeniable fact.

You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You will feel unhappy and regretful.

You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You will regret losing a dear friend like me.

There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There will be a time in the future, remember this.

There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You will eventually feel remorse for this.

Someday, when you grow lonely
One day, when you are feeling lonely.

Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Your heart will be broken like mine is and you will only want me at that point.

You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You will feel unhappy and regretful.

You're gonna feel bad
You will feel guilty and remorseful.

And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
You will deeply regret losing.

And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
You will regret losing the best friend you've ever had.

But baby, think what you're doin'
Please think about what you are doing, my dear.

I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
My memory will haunt and taunt you forever.

It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will make you suffer and lead to your downfall.

After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you have left me, once you are gone.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

catfish336699

14y

oscar & the count are two of my all time favorites. loved their take on this standard. thankyou irishdutchman. more!!!

MiracleBigEvent

I have this album but at my age YouTube is more available. Thank you! No arguments here about who’s the best jazz pianists. PLEASE! These two guys are two of the best. Tatum, etc., etc.are also great. Thankfully we’ve heard most if not all of them so far. Let’s just ENJOY. Thank you for posting!