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.
I'll Never Smile Again
Count Basie Lyrics
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Until I smile at you
I'll never laugh again
What good would it do?
For tears would fill my eyes
My heart would realize
That our romance is through
I'm so in love with you
I'll never thrill again
To somebody new
Within my heart
I know I will never start
To smile again
Until I smile at you
The lyrics of I'll Never Smile Again by Count Basie express the pain and heartbreak of a love that has ended. The singer makes it clear that without the person they love, they will not be able to find happiness again. The lyrics are written in a way that captures the despair and sadness that comes with a lost love. The song starts with the singer saying that they will not smile again until they see the person they love. This emphasizes how important the person is in their life and how much they need them to be happy.
The lyrics continue to explain the difficulty of moving on from the lost love. The singer states that they will not laugh again, as it would not serve any purpose without the person they love. Tears would fill their eyes and their heart would be heavy with the realization that the romance is over. The song then goes on to say that the singer will never love again, as they are so in love with this person. They will never feel the same thrill with somebody new as they did with the person they lost. This emphasizes the idea that once a love is lost, it is never fully replaced.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as it speaks directly to the person they have lost. The singer says that they know in their heart that they will never start to smile again until they see the person they love. This emphasis on the importance of the person to their happiness drives home the depth of the feelings being expressed in the song. The lyrics of I'll Never Smile Again are a powerful expression of love and loss, and capture the heartbreak that comes with the end of a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never smile again
I cannot express happiness anymore
Until I smile at you
Unless I have something to smile about regarding you
I'll never laugh again
I cannot find amusement in anything anymore
What good would it do?
As it would not change the truth
For tears would fill my eyes
I cannot hold back my emotions
My heart would realize
My feelings would come to acknowledge
That our romance is through
That our love affair is over
I'll never love again
I cannot find affection elsewhere
I'm so in love with you
My heart is dedicated to you
I'll never thrill again
I cannot feel excitement anew
To somebody new
Toward another person
Within my heart
In my core, internally
I know I will never start
I understand I will never begin
To smile again
To exhibit happiness after all
Until I smile at you
Until I have something to smile about regarding you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Glenn Osser, Ruth Lowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind