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.

I Never Knew
Count Basie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You, get me feelin' crazy
There always on my mind
And I get to feelin' lately
If I never knew your name,
I'd love you all the same
But I have you to myself
Wanting nothing else
Knowing that you're mine

Good time,bad time,all the time
Hands reachin' 'cross a room
And I know somewhere inside my mind
If I never knew your name,
I'd love you all the same,
But I have you to myself
Wanting nothing else
Knowing that you're mine

Ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba

And I know somewhere inside my mind
If I never knew your name,
I'd love you all the same
But I have you to myself

Wanting nothing else
Knowing that you're mine
Have you to myself

Wanting nothing else
Knowing that you're mine...

Overall Meaning

In Count Basie/Bennie Moten's song "I Never Knew", the singer expresses how he feels crazy and constantly thinks about the person he loves. He admits that even if he never knew their name, he would still love them the same. The singer's desire is to have this person all to himself, and he knows that they are his. The lyrics describe the feeling of being in love with someone and knowing that they belong to you, but also acknowledging that even if they didn't, the love would still be there.

The repetition of the phrase "wanting nothing else" emphasizes the singer's contentment with having this person and not needing anything else. The melody is simple, with a swinging rhythm and a catchy ba ba ba ba ba vocal riff. The Ba ba ba ba ba also gives the song a sense of timelessness, making it sound like this kind of feeling has existed since the beginning of time.

Line by Line Meaning

You, get me feelin' crazy
Your existence makes me lose control and feel unstable

There always on my mind
I constantly think of you

And I get to feelin' lately
Recently, I begin to realize

If I never knew your name,
Even without knowing your identity,

I'd love you all the same
I would still have deep affection for you

But I have you to myself
Fortunately, I have you all to myself

Wanting nothing else
I don't need anyone or anything else

Knowing that you're mine
It is comforting to know that you belong to me

Good time, bad time, all the time
Regardless of any circumstances or emotions

Hands reachin' 'cross a room
Our desire for each other is strong and undeniable

And I know somewhere inside my mind
Deep down, in my innermost thoughts,