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.

Help
Count Basie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh listen, sister
I love my mister man and I can't tell you why
there ain't no reason why I should love that man
It must be sumpin' dat de angels done plan
De chimbley's smokin'
De roof is leakin' in
But he don't seem to care
He can be happy

With jes' a sip of gin
I even loves him when his kisses got gin

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly
I got to love man till I die
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
Tell me he's lazy
Tell me he's slow
Tell me I'm crazy, maybe, I know
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
When he goes away
that's a rainy day
And when he comes back dat day is fine
The sun will shine
He can come home as late as can be

Home without him ain't no home to me
Can't help lovin' that man of mine

Overall Meaning

The song "Help" by Count Basie is a jazz-tinged love song, sung from the perspective of a woman who is deeply in love with her partner. The opening line of the song, "Oh listen, sister," is addressed to the listener, as the singer proceeds to explain her powerful feelings for her "mister man" that she cannot explain. She acknowledges that there is no logical reason for her to love him, yet there must be some divine plan for their love.

As the song unfolds, the singer reveals that despite their less-than-ideal living conditions (smoking chimney, leaky roof), her partner remains content with just a sip of gin. She even loves him when his kisses taste of the same. The singer accepts her partner with all his flaws and recognizes that he makes her feel whole; without him, there is no feeling of "home." She concedes that others may judge him as "lazy" or "slow," but she cannot help loving him with all her heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh listen, sister
Pay attention, friend

I love my mister man and I can't tell you why
I have a deep passion for my man that I cannot explain

there ain't no reason why I should love that man
In theory, there is no explanation for why I should love him

It must be sumpin' dat de angels done plan
It must be something that was planned by the angels above

De chimbley's smokin'
The chimney is smoking

De roof is leakin' in
The roof is leaking

But he don't seem to care
But he doesn't seem to mind

He can be happy
He can find happiness

With jes' a sip of gin
With just a sip of gin

I even loves him when his kisses got gin
I even love him when he has been drinking and his kisses have a hint of gin

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly
Fish have to swim and birds have to fly