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 Left My Heart In San Francisco
Count Basie Lyrics
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High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
your golden sun will shine for me!
I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
your golden sun will shine for me!
The lyrics of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" effectively captures the longing of someone who is deeply in love with San Francisco. The opening line, "I left my heart in San Francisco," is a powerful statement that conveys the strong attachment the singer has for the city, making it the focus of the entire song. The second line, "High on a hill it calls to me," expresses the enchanting nature of San Francisco, as the image of a city on a hill is an iconic one that represents a beacon of beauty and wonder.
The lyrics that follow demonstrate the singer's desire to be close to the city's famous cable cars that climb the hills, stating that they climb "halfway to the stars." These lines evoke a sense of wonder and magic, as if the city is a place where anything is possible. The following lines paint a picture of a chilly morning fog that is typically associated with San Francisco. Despite the discomfort, the singer remains unfazed because their love waits for them there, above the blue and windy sea. The last two lines of the song express the singer's hope of returning to San Francisco and experiencing the warmth of its golden sun.
Overall, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" is a beautiful love letter to a city that captures the essence of its appeal - its enchantment, beauty, and the promise of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my heart in San Francisco.
San Francisco is the place where my emotional attachment lies.
High on a hill it calls to me to be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!
The beautiful view from the top of a hill, and the experience of riding a little cable car that almost reaches the stars, makes me want to be there even more.
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care!
Even though the cold fog of mornings could be unpleasant to some, it doesn't discourage me from wanting to be in San Francisco.
My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea.
Someone special whom I love is waiting for me in San Francisco, and it feels right to be near that beautiful and vast sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me!
When I go back to San Francisco, the warm and bright sun will be a welcoming symbol of everything that's great about the city that I left my heart in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind