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.
Flip Flop and Fly
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I get the blues, I get me a rockin' chair
Well, if the blues overtake me gonna rock right away from here
Now when I get lonesome, I jump on the telephone
When I get lonesome, I jump on the telephone
I call my baby, tell her I'm on my way back home
I don't care if I die
Now flip, flop and fly
I don't care if I die
Don't ever leave me, don't ever say goodbye
Give me one more kiss, hold it a long long time
Give me one more kiss, hold it a long long time
Now love me baby, till the feelin' hits my head like wine
Here comes my baby, flashin' her new gold tooth
Here comes my baby, flashin' her new gold tooth
Well she's so small, she can mambo in a pay phone booth
Now flip, flop and fly
I don't care if I die
Now flip, flop and fly
I don't care if I die
Ah, don't ever leave me, don't ever say goodbye
I'm like a Mississippi bullfrog, sittin' on a hollow stump
I'm like a Mississippi bullfrog, sittin' on a hollow stump
I got so many women, I don't know which way to jump
Now flip, flop and fly
I don't care if I die
Now flip, flop and fly
I don't care if I die
Now, don't ever leave me, don't ever say goodbye
Oh my!
The lyrics to Count Basie's song "Flip Flop and Fly" convey the singer's various coping mechanisms for dealing with the blues and loneliness. When he gets the blues, he seeks solace in his rocking chair, using it as a way to escape his current situation. When he is lonely, he calls his lover and tells her he's on his way back home. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the singer's devil-may-care attitude, stating that he doesn't care if he dies. He implores his lover not to leave him and to give him one more kiss that she will hold onto for a long time. The final verse likens the singer to a Mississippi bullfrog perched on a stump who has so many women vying for his attention that he doesn't know which way to turn.
The song "Flip Flop and Fly" was recorded by several artists, including Big Joe Turner, who wrote the song and popularized it in the rhythm and blues genre. Count Basie's version of the song is recognizable for its distinctive brass section and instrumental solos. The lyrics of the song are an example of the common trope in blues and soul music of using metaphors and similes to describe emotions and feelings. The song has a catchy and upbeat rhythm that sounds jazzy but also has elements of rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
Now when I get the blues, I get me a rockin' chair
When I feel sad and down, I find solace in a chair that I can rock back and forth on
Well, if the blues overtake me gonna rock right away from here
If my sadness becomes too much to handle, I'll physically remove myself by rocking away from my current location
Now when I get lonesome, I jump on the telephone
When I feel lonely, I pick up the phone to call my significant other or a loved one
I call my baby, tell her I'm on my way back home
I reach out to my sweetheart to let them know I'm coming back home to be with them
Now flip, flop and fly
I'm going to dance and move my body energetically
I don't care if I die
I'm having so much fun that I'm not concerned with anything else
Don't ever leave me, don't ever say goodbye
I'm having too much fun to want this moment to end, and I don't want my sweetheart to ever break up with me
Give me one more kiss, hold it a long long time
I want to share a passionate kiss with my significant other for an extended period of time
Now love me baby, till the feelin' hits my head like wine
I want my sweetheart to love me with such intensity that it makes me feel intoxicated, like I've had too much wine
Here comes my baby, flashin' her new gold tooth
My sweetheart is approaching with a smile that showcases a new gold tooth that she's excited to show off
Well she's so small, she can mambo in a pay phone booth
My sweetheart is petite enough to dance the mambo in the cramped quarters of a pay phone booth
I'm like a Mississippi bullfrog, sittin' on a hollow stump
I feel like a content bullfrog sitting on a stump in the Mississippi swamp
I got so many women, I don't know which way to jump
I have so many women interested in me that it's hard for me to choose which ones to pursue
Oh my!
An interjection expressing excitement or surprise
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES E. CALHOUN, LOU WILLIE TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind