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.
Ain't It the Truth
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't it the truth?
And there is no other,
Ain't it the truth?
If you don't love livin' you is slightly uncouth,
Ain't it the dignified truth?
Said that gal Du Barry,
Life is cash and carry,
Ain't it the truth?
You got to shake it down or stir up with vermouth,
Ain't it the practical truth?
Love is a ripplin' brook,
Man is a fish to cook,
You got to bait your hook;
Rise and shine,
Cast your line!
You got to get your possum,
Ain't it the truth?
While you still in blossom,
Ain't it the truth?
Cleopatra and Delilah had it way over Ruth,
Mmm, them gels did mighty swell,
They sure did ring that bell!
Ain't it the gospel truth?
It's the truth, the truth,
It's the solid mellow truth!
The lyrics to Count Basie's song Ain't It the Truth are a commentary on the brevity of life and the need to make the most of it. The repetition of the phrase "Ain't it the truth?" serves as a reminder that we cannot escape the reality of our own mortality. The opening lines underscore the importance of embracing life fully and loving every moment of it. The use of the slang term "uncouth" highlights the notion that failure to appreciate life is socially unacceptable.
The reference to Du Barry in the second stanza suggests that the lyrics are also meant to be a commentary on money and power. Her famous quote "Life is cash and carry" serves as a wry observation on the oppressive nature of capitalism. The line about vermouth suggests that the solution to the challenges of life is to add a little extra kick to it. The third stanza offers a metaphor for love, with man being compared to a fish to be caught. The call to action to "rise and shine" and "cast your line" underscores the notion that love, like life, requires active participation.
The final stanza offers further insights into the lyrics' underlying themes. The notion of getting a possum while you're still in blossom suggests that we need to seize the day and make the most of our youthful energy. The reference to Cleopatra and Delilah speaks to the themes of power and seduction, while the mention of Ruth suggests that even ordinary people can achieve greatness if they have the right attitude. The phrase "them gels did mighty swell" serves as a nod to the power of female empowerment, while the closing lines "Ain't it the gospel truth?" suggest that the lyrics are meant to be taken seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is short brother,
Life is brief, my friend,
Ain't it the truth?
Isn't that the undeniable truth?
And there is no other,
And there's no other way around it,
Ain't it the truth?
Isn't that the undeniable truth?
If you don't love livin' you is slightly uncouth,
If you don't love life, you're a bit impolite,
Ain't it the dignified truth?
Isn't this a respectable truth?
Said that gal Du Barry,
As Du Barry once said,
"Ain't it the truth?
"Isn't this the undeniable truth?
Life is cash and carry,
Life is all about business transactions,
Ain't it the truth?
Isn't that the undeniable truth?
You got to shake it down or stir up with vermouth,
You have to shake things up or add some flavor to it,
Ain't it the practical truth?
Isn't that just the practical truth?
Love is a ripplin' brook,
Love is like a flowing stream,
Man is a fish to cook,
Man is like a fish that needs to be cooked,
You got to bait your hook;
You have to lure someone in,
Rise and shine,
Wake up early and be alert,
Cast your line!
Put yourself out there!
You got to get your possum,
You have to achieve your goals,
Ain't it the truth?
Isn't that the undeniable truth?
While you still in blossom,
While you're still young and lively,
Ain't it the truth?
Isn't that the undeniable truth?
Cleopatra and Delilah had it way over Ruth,
Cleopatra and Delilah were more successful than Ruth,
Mmm, them gels did mighty swell,
They were very successful,
They sure did ring that bell!
They certainly made a name for themselves!
Ain't it the gospel truth?
Isn't that the absolute truth?
It's the truth, the truth,
It's undoubtedly true,
It's the solid mellow truth!
It's the unshakable truth!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind