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.
Just A Dream
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All our plans and our all schemes
How could I think you'd be mine?
The lies I'd tell myself each time
I know that we could never last
We just can't seem to in the past
Just a dream I dream in vain
Your picture is always with me
I can still hear that same mournful song
And now I sit here crying
Please, leave me alone
Why, why do I love you?
How can I live in misery?
I know that I won't forget you
But now I know it's too late for me
The Count Basie song Just A Dream is a melancholic ballad about heartbreak and lost love. The opening lines, "Just a dream, just a dream, all our plans and all our schemes, how could I think you'd be mine?" set the tone for the entire song. The singer is reflecting on a past relationship, and how he had convinced himself that it was more than just a dream, that it was real. But he now realizes that it was only a fantasy, and that he was living in a world of lies that he had created for himself.
The chorus of the song, "Why, why do I love you? How can I live in misery?" speaks to the confusion and pain that the singer feels. He knows that the relationship is over, and that he cannot go back to the way things were. He is haunted by memories of the past, represented by the mournful song that he can still hear. The verse "With you I'd only live in pain" emphasizes the destructive nature of this love, and the fact that the singer cannot move on from it.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the agony of lost love, and the feelings that come with it. It captures the pain of coming to terms with reality and moving on from an idealized, untrue version of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a dream, just a dream
I realize that everything between us was nothing but a figment of my imagination, an unrealistic fantasy.
All our plans and our all schemes
We had so many ideas and goals for the future, but they were all meaningless and unattainable.
How could I think you'd be mine?
I was foolish to believe that I could ever have you as my own.
The lies I'd tell myself each time
I lied to myself constantly, pretending that we had a chance when deep down I knew it was hopeless.
I know that we could never last
Our relationship was doomed from the start, and I was naive to think it could ever work out.
We just can't seem to in the past
We couldn't let go of our history and move on, which prevented us from ever truly being happy.
Just a dream I dream in vain
My hopes and aspirations for us were fruitless, leading to nothing but disappointment and heartache.
With you I'd only live in pain
Being with you would only lead me to suffer and hurt, despite my desire for you.
Your picture is always with me
I can't escape the memories of you and the life we never had together, even when I try to forget.
I can still hear that same mournful song
The sadness of our situation continues to haunt me and plays on repeat in my mind.
And now I sit here crying
I am overcome by emotion and can't help but express my pain through tears.
Please, leave me alone
I am begging for space and distance, hoping to escape the thoughts of you that are consuming me.
Why, why do I love you?
I am questioning the reasons behind my feelings for you, as they only bring misery and regret.
How can I live in misery?
The unhappiness caused by my love for you is too much to bear, and I am struggling to find a way out.
I know that I won't forget you
Even though it pains me, I am aware that you will always have a place in my heart and my memories.
But now I know it's too late for me
I understand that our chance for a future together has passed, and I must come to terms with that reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS ROOT, JON SMITH, JEAN-MARIE BRICHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind