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.
Fly Me To The Moon
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on
A-jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words
In other words
I love
You
The song "Fly Me to the Moon" by the Count Basie Orchestra is a poetic love song about a lover's longing to explore the universe with their partner. The lyrics express the desire to leave Earth and explore the stars, and to experience the beauty of the universe from a different perspective. The singer asks their lover to take their hand and take them away from the mundanity of everyday life, to let them "play among the stars" and explore the planets of Jupiter and Mars. The song is framed by the chorus, which is a plea for the lover to fill the singer's heart with song, and to let them sing forevermore. The song ends with a declaration of love, as the singer professes their love for their partner.
The lyrics of "Fly Me to the Moon" are powerful in the way that they express the longing for adventure that is often associated with love. The imagery of exploring the universe is a metaphor for the journey that the lovers are on together, and the singer's plea for their partner to be true is a reminder of the importance of trust and fidelity in any relationship. The powerful chorus is a reminder that love is a source of joy, and that it has the ability to fill our hearts with song.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly me to the moon
Take me on an adventure, beyond the realms of earth
Let me play among the stars
Let me bask in the wonderful, free-spirited nature of the vast universe
Let me see what spring is like on
A-jupiter and Mars
Let me experience the wonders of the universe, from its nearby planets to the farthest corners
In other words, hold my hand
Expressing a romantic desire for physical touch and emotional connection
In other words, baby, kiss me
Expressing a deeper romantic desire for a passionate kiss, with an endearing term of affection
Fill my heart with song
Imbue my heart with melody and harmony, bringing joy and contentment
And let me sing forevermore
Enabling the desire to express joy and passion through song, forever
You are all I long for
Expressing an exclusive desire for the person being addressed
All I worship and adore
The sole subject of devotion and admiration
In other words, please be true
Requesting honesty and faithfulness in the relationship
In other words, I love you
An expression of deep love, confirming its presence and importance in the relationship
In other words
Repeated several times as a transition, indicating a continuation of the same sentiment
I love you
Finalizing the song's expression of deep love and affection
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bart Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrZdayne
FLY ME TO THE MOON - FRANK SINATRA & COUNT BASIE (LYRICS) .. Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on
A-Jupiter and Mars
In other words, Hold.. my hand
In other words, Baby, kiss me
..
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for
All I worship, and adore
In other words..
Please be true..
In other words..
I.. love you.. ..
<MUSIC>
..
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for All I worship and adore
In other words.. Please be true....
In other words..
In other words..
I.... love....
You!
@angel1329us
It's Saturday morning, and I just listened to this for two hours, looping. I am still not done. I may just listen to this all day long. It's impossible to be anything but light hearted, impossible to resist singing, impossible not to feel yourself dancing.
@Sonicfan640
I'm glad this this video gives Count Basie the credit he deserves for this song.
@jamesbrookeriii811
Truly in deed....
@gibbogsi
Literally cannot listen to any other version of this anymore absolute masterpiece!!!
@TimClarkeJazzTrumpet
Quincy Jones should get some of the credit too. He wrote the arrangements and conducted the Basie band on this.
@johnjuan4741
@@gibbogsi This version is awesome (I am the one who posted this, after all). But I would also humbly suggest the slower Tony Bennett version. Mr. Bennett carries some gorgeous notes and it's a different but quite beautiful rendition of the song.
@johnjuan4741
@@TimClarkeJazzTrumpet Go easy on me lol ... I had two small babies when I first posted this. Hard to focus on these things. But I corrected it now.
@christophepoulin4201
Three legends ! Sinatra, Count Basie et Quincy Jones !
@craigkopcho7394
I remember NASA playing this to wake up the Apollo astronauts back in the 60's.
@johnjuan4741
That's flat awesome.