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.
Lost in the Stars
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He held all the stars in the palm of his hand.
And they ran through his fingers like grains of sand,
And one little star fell alone.
Then the Lord God hunted through the wide night air
For the little dark star on the wind down there.
And he stated and promised he'd take special care
Now a man don't mind if the stars grow dim
And the clouds blow over and darken him,
So long as the Lord God's watching over them,
Keeping track of how it all goes on.
But I've been walking all the night and the day,
Till my eyes get weary and my head turns gray.
And sometimes it seems maybe God's gone away,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
Little stars, big stars, blowing through the night,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
Little stars, big stars, blowing through the night,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
The lyrics in Lost in the Stars depict a feeling of hopelessness and confusion. The idea of feeling lost is explored through the metaphor of being lost out in the stars. The song begins by painting a picture of the vastness of God's creations, where he held all the stars in the palm of his hand. However, despite the care God took in creating the stars, one little star fell alone. The lyrics suggest that even though God promised to take special care to ensure that this little star wouldn't get lost again, there is a sense of uncertainty and lack of control.
The second verse moves into the theme of feeling lost and starts with the imagery of God hunting through the wide night air for the little dark star that fell. This suggests that even with God's best efforts, it is still possible for things to be lost or forgotten. The lyrics then suggest that it is easier for a man to accept his surroundings when he knows that God is watching over everything. However, in the chorus, the songwriter reveals that they feel lost and forgotten, with little control over what is happening around them.
Overall, the lyrics of Lost in the Stars deal with the feeling of being lost and forgotten in a vast universe. The song explores the idea that even with God's best efforts, things can still go wrong, and there is a sense of uncertainty and lack of control that can arise from this feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Before Lord God made the sea and the land,
Before the creation of the world, God held all the stars in His palm.
He held all the stars in the palm of his hand.
God had control over all the stars, like they were his little children.
And they ran through his fingers like grains of sand,
As God let go of the stars, they flowed through his fingers like fine sand.
And one little star fell alone.
One little star strayed from God's hand and fell into the unknown.
Then the Lord God hunted through the wide night air
God searched high and low through the night sky,
For the little dark star on the wind down there.
To find the lost star that fell far down from the sky.
And he stated and promised he'd take special care
God declared that he'd protect that little star with special care.
So it wouldn't get lost again.
God would ensure that the little star would never be lost again.
Now a man don't mind if the stars grow dim
A man may not be bothered if stars lose their brightness.
And the clouds blow over and darken him,
Even if environmental factors dull a man's life, he may not mind it.
So long as the Lord God's watching over them,
As long as God is still keeping an eye on everything, a man feels safe.
Keeping track of how it all goes on.
God is carefully monitoring everything that's happening.
But I've been walking all the night and the day,
I've been wandering without respite, day and night,
Till my eyes get weary and my head turns gray.
Until my eyes tire and my hair turns gray with exhaustion.
And sometimes it seems maybe God's gone away,
Occasionally it seems as if God has disappeared,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
Leaving us feeling stranded and alone among the stars.
Little stars, big stars, blowing through the night,
Stars of all sizes, dancing in the night sky,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
Can make us feel lost and forgotten among the vastness of space.
Little stars, big stars, blowing through the night,
The little stars that may seem insignificant moving through the sky,
And we're lost out here in the stars.
Can make us feel incredibly small among the grandeur of the heavens.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KURT WEILL, MAXWELL ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Streisand70
Not really different from the recording. This is my favorite version of the song which moves me every time I hear it.
@davidholiday4494
This is just so beautiful. Many people love the Sinatra version but for some reason I have never like Sinatra. I think this version of the song exemplifies my dislike - Sinatra shows no emotion or vulnerability in his version - in this song Bennett excels. Particularly in the later verse and the line "and sometimes I think maybe God's gone away" the pause after that line and the emotion in his voice as he signs the line is just sublime.
@MsCatreona
I don't actually dislike Sinatra, though IMO you're right that he all too often threw the emotion out the window, especially later in his career. Some of his recordings when he was young are absolutely beautiful. Still he mainly had really good PR.
This particular song indisputably belongs to Tony Bennett.
@karolyneszepvolgyi559
Nagyon tetszett ez a videó film.
Csodálatos volt ez a dal, valamint a művész.
@martinjuanjoseamadeovidela6578
This is and beatiful music.