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.
How Long Blues
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby how long
Have that ev'nin train been gone
Baby, how long, how long, baby how long
Hear it was so
Can't see no train
But deep in my heart I feel and achin' pain
Into the station
Look up at the board
Next train around
Strawberry Road
How long, how, woo, baby how long
'Make it wail ev'rybody'
'Yeah, so sweet'
Down atta station
With my head hung down
Lookin' at my sugar, when she leave this town
Baby, how long, how long, baby how long
I ain't got no money
Buy a ticket on a train
But I'll ride de blinds, baby
Be back home, again
Well, how long, how long, baby how long
See me comin'
Gon get some plow work
I'll cut your liver
Plug your heartache
Been so long, woo swoo, baby how long
'Sonny, wail about it'
Feelin' bad, I'm lookin' sad
Thinkin' bout the bad luck, Sonny
I once have had
But how long, how long, honey how long
See the green grass, growin' on a hill
Never seen no green grass on a dollar bill
How long, how long, baby how long
Lower you, baby
To a hollow tree
Way you treat me
Come back to you
Hoo, low, hoo, woo, baby gone
'Make it wail ev'rybody, now'
Feel so disgusted, I feel so blue
Sometimes Sonny, I don't know
What in the world I'm gonna do
Now, how long, how long, yeah how long
See that little house, sitting on the hill
You don't love me, goin try another who will
How long, how long baby, how long
See my baby, tell her I'll be runnin' home
I've been worried, ever since she been gone
How long, how, woo, baby how long
'Love to see ya'
'Play for me, now'
The lyrics to Count Basie & His Orchestra's song "How Long Blues" tell the story of someone who is heartbroken and pining for a lover who has gone away on a train. The singer asks how long the train has been gone and expresses their pain, even though they cannot see the train. They think about taking the next train to go after their lover, but they don't have any money so they plan to ride the train illegally. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be with their lover again, even if they have to work hard or fight off heartache. They mention the green grass growing on a hill, which symbolizes the happiness and love they once had but can no longer find. They also mention a little house on a hill, but note that they will find someone else to love if their lover does not return.
The lyrics of "How Long Blues" are full of emotion and pain, and paint a vivid picture of longing and heartbreak. The singer is desperate to be reunited with their lover, even if it means breaking the law or fighting through difficult situations. Despite their determination, they also express feelings of sadness and disgust at their current situation. The song is a classic example of blues music, with its expressive lyrics and soulful melody conveying the raw emotions of a person navigating the complexities of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, how long
The singer is addressing someone and asking them how long they’ve been gone.
Baby how long
Repeating the same question, asking the length of the absence once more.
Have that ev'nin train been gone
The singer is now asking specifically about a train leaving in the evening and how long it has been gone.
Hear it was so
The artist acknowledges that they heard about the departure of the train.
Can't see no train
However, they cannot physically see the train, despite hearing about it.
But deep in my heart I feel and achin' pain
Despite a lack of visual confirmation, the singer can feel the pain of the train's absence.
And that's a-how long, how long, babe how long
The singer associates the pain with the length of time that the train has been gone, repeating the question once more.
Into the station
The artist is now at the train station.
Look up at the board
They are looking at the departure board to see when the next train is.
Next train around
They’ve spotted the next available train.
Strawberry Road
The singer is listening to someone else’s conversation about the destination of the next train.
How long, how, woo, baby how long
Despite finding the train, the artist is still concerned about the time since the other train left.
'Make it wail ev'rybody'
A command to the band to really put their all into the music and play loudly.
'Yeah, so sweet'
An expression of satisfaction with the sound being created by the music.
Down atta station
The singer is now below the main level of the station, likely on the platform.
With my head hung down
The artist is feeling down and sulking with their head bowed.
Lookin' at my sugar, when she leave this town
The artist is thinking about their partner and how they’ve left.
Baby, how long, how long, baby how long
The singer returns to their original question, wondering how long it will be until their partner returns.
I ain't got no money
The singer is strapped for cash and doesn’t have the means to buy a train ticket.
Buy a ticket on a train
The artist is considering buying a ticket to ride the train with the intention of seeing their partner.
But I'll ride de blinds, baby
However, the artist decides to take a riskier route and ride on the train without a ticket.
Be back home, again
They are determined to see their partner once more, even if they have to break a few rules to do so.
Well, how long, how long, baby how long
The singer wonders about the length of time between now and their reunion with their partner again.
See me comin'
The artist imagines what their triumphant reunion will look like as they approach their partner.
Gon get some plow work
The singer has no choice but to do some manual labor with a plow.
I'll cut your liver
The singer is threatening to harm someone in response to their own unhappiness.
Plug your heartache
They are aggressive towards others because they are hurting themselves.
Been so long, woo swoo, baby how long
The artist’s frustration is building as the length of the separation grows longer.
'Sonny, wail about it'
An instruction to the band to convey the emotions behind the words being sung.
Feelin' bad, I'm lookin' sad
The singer is not feeling good and looks visibly upset.
Thinkin' bout the bad luck, Sonny
The singer is contemplating the misfortune they’ve experienced in life.
I once have had
A reference to a better time in the past when the artist was happier.
But how long, how long, honey how long
The artist is still preoccupied with the length of time they must wait before seeing their partner again.
See the green grass, growin' on a hill
The artist is reflecting on the purely natural growth of the world around them.
Never seen no green grass on a dollar bill
This statement is a contrast to the previous line and highlights the artifice of money in relation to the natural world.
How long, how long, baby how long
The artist is still focused on the length of their absence from their partner.
Lower you, baby
The singer wants their partner to come closer to them, perhaps for a hug.
To a hollow tree
The singer uses an unusual image to describe their embrace with their partner.
Way you treat me
The singer is expressing dissatisfaction with how their partner has been treating them.
Come back to you
However, they still want to return to their partner.
Hoo, low, hoo, woo, baby gone
The artist expresses their sense of separation from their partner compared to when they were together.
'Make it wail ev'rybody, now'
The band is once again commanded to play loudly and passionately by the singer.
Feel so disgusted, I feel so blue
The singer is feeling bad and sad all over.
Sometimes Sonny, I don't know
The artist is admitting they do not know all the answers in life.
What in the world I'm gonna do
The artist is asking a rhetorical question about how they will solve their problems.
Now, how long, how long, yeah how long
The artist is back to questioning how long it will be until they are reunited with their partner.
See that little house, sitting on the hill
Another reflection on the natural world, this time the singer is noticing a little house on a hill.
You don't love me, goin try another who will
If their partner doesn’t love them, the artist will find someone else who will.
How long, how long baby, how long
Still hung up on the length of their time apart from their partner.
See my baby, tell her I'll be runnin' home
The singer is going to run home as fast as possible to be reunited with their partner.
I've been worried, ever since she been gone
The singer is confessing they’ve been worried since their partner left and have not stopped thinking about them.
How long, how, woo, baby how long
The final repetition of the question relating to the duration of the separation between the artist and their partner.
'Love to see ya'
The artist is expressing their desire to be reunited with their partner.
'Play for me, now'
An instruction for the band to keep playing music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEROY AUTHUR CARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tattaglia
Nowadays is so cool to hear the click and pops from old albums. Thank You!
Enes Colak
thank you