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.

Mean To Me
Count Basie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're mean to me
Why must you be mean to me?
Gee, honey, it seems to me
You love to see me cryin'
I don't know why
I stay home each night
When you say you phone
You don't and I'm left alone.

Sing the blues and sighin'
You treat me coldly each day in the year
You always scold me
Whenever somebody is near, dear
I must be great fun to be mean to me

You shouldn't, for can't you see
What you mean to me

Overall Meaning

The song “Mean to me” by Count Basie/Zoot Sims is a melancholic piece that talks about a lover being mistreated and taken for granted. In the song, the singer makes the plea to their partner to stop being mean to them and to show them more love and affection. The singer seems to be at a loss as to why their partner is treating them the way that they are, and they feel as though their partner enjoys seeing them unhappy.

The lyrics express the pain and heartache of feeling unappreciated and neglected in a relationship. The line “You love to see me cryin'” suggests that the partner is intentionally hurting the singer, which adds to the emotional intensity of the lyrics. The singer also talks about waiting for their partner to call them but always being left alone, indicating the lack of commitment and communication in the relationship.

The final lines of the song (“I must be great fun to be mean to me/ You shouldn't, for can't you see/ What you mean to me”) reveal that despite everything, the singer still loves their partner and hopes they will understand the pain they’re causing. The song is a powerful expression of the intricacies of love and heartbreak, and it resonates with anyone who has ever felt unappreciated or neglected in a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

You're mean to me
You are unkind to me

Why must you be mean to me?
Why do you choose to be cruel to me?

Gee, honey, it seems to me
It appears to me, my dear

You love to see me cryin'
You take pleasure in seeing me in tears

I don't know why
I'm unsure why

I stay home each night
Every night, I choose to stay at home

When you say you phone
Whenever you promise to call

You don't and I'm left alone.
You don't follow through, leaving me lonely

Sing the blues and sighin'
I sing sad songs and let out breathy, mournful sounds

You treat me coldly each day in the year
You are distant and unfriendly to me every day, without exception

You always scold me
You frequently rebuke me