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.
Come Fly With Me
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come on, fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away
Come fly with me, we'll float down to Peru
And he'll toot his flute for you
Come on, fly with me, we'll float down in the blue
Once I get you up there
Where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide
Starry eyed
Once I get you up there
I'll be holding you so near
You're gonna hear
A gang of angels cheer because we're together
Weather wise, it's such a lovely day
Just say the word, we'll beat those birds
Down to Acapulco Bay
It is perfect for a flying honeymoon (I'm tired, god damnit, I'm tired)
Fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away, we'll fly away (we'll fly)
Once I get you up there
Where the air is rarefied
We're gonna glide
Absolutely petrified
Once I get you up there
I'll be holding you so very near
You might even hear
A mess of angels cheer just because we're together
Weather-wise, it's such a groovy day
You just say the word and I'll whip your bird
Down to Acapulco Bay
It is perfect for a flying honeymoon, they do say
Come on, fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly
Pack up, let's fly away
The song "Come Fly With Me" by Count Basie is an invitation to an adventurous trip with a loved one. The singer promises to take the listener on a journey to exotic locations like Bombay and Peru, where they can indulge in exotic booze and enjoy the local music. The song's tone is jovial, and the lyrics showcase the singer's desire to escape from the mundane and enjoy life to the fullest.
The lyrics of the song's chorus suggest that the singer has a plan to make the listener's trip unforgettable. The singer wants to take the listener high up there, where the air is thin, and they can glide through the sky. The listener will be held close, and they will hear a multitude of angels cheer because they are together. The lyrics are evocative of the joy that comes with being with a loved one, and the imagery of flying high in the sky and gliding paints a picture of unbridled freedom and excitement.
The song's final verses reiterate the invitation to fly away to the music's rhythm and forget about the world's troubles. It is an apt reminder of the power of a good trip to help us forget our worries and embrace life's joys fully. Overall, "Come Fly With Me" is a timeless classic, and its message of adventure, love, and freedom still resonates with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Come fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away
Let's travel together and leave our current place, we will fly away together.
If you can use some exotic booze
If you're interested in trying some unique alcohol, I know a bar in a faraway land.
There's a bar in far Bombay
I know of a bar in Bombay that serves exotic drinks.
Come on, fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away
Please come with me, and we can travel to a faraway land together.
Come fly with me, we'll float down to Peru
We can fly together and travel to Peru to experience its beauty together.
In llama land there's a one man band
In Peru, there's a musician who can play a variety of instruments on his own.
And he'll toot his flute for you
He'll play his flute for us to enjoy.
Come on, fly with me, we'll float down in the blue
Let's enjoy flying and experience the beauty of the blue sky while traveling to Peru.
Once I get you up there
Once we reach our destination, we can start to enjoy the effects of being high up in the sky.
Where the air is rarefied
We will be traveling in an area where the air is not common, so will feel lighter and freer.
We'll just glide
We will travel effortlessly and gracefully.
Starry eyed
We will be excited and elated with our journey.
I'll be holding you so near
I will hold you close, and we can enjoy this exciting new experience together.
You're gonna hear
You will hear the sounds of ultimate happiness and joy.
A gang of angels cheer because we're together
The universe will be happy because we are together.
Weather wise, it's such a lovely day
The climate is welcoming, and it's an excellent day for our travel.
Just say the word, we'll beat those birds
If you're ready, we can start flying and beat the birds together.
Down to Acapulco Bay
Let's travel to Acapulco Bay together.
It is perfect for a flying honeymoon (I'm tired, god damnit, I'm tired)
The location is ideal for a honeymoon and we will not regret the choice of destination.
Fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away, we'll fly away (we'll fly)
Let's travel together, and we will fly away and enjoy our journey.
We're gonna glide
We will float effortlessly and smoothly once we reach our destination.
Absolutely petrified
We might be scared but also excited to enjoy this new experience.
You might even hear
You may hear the sound of an extraordinary event occurring.
A mess of angels cheer just because we're together
The angels will be celebrating because we're happy and enjoying our travel together.
You just say the word and I'll whip your bird
Just tell me when you're ready to fly, and we can start right away.
Pack up, let's fly away
Let's pack and commence our travel right away.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind