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.
The King
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And knew I shouldn't be
Made all the threats again
The pain is deafening
The jury couldn't win
And put the verdict in
Like many times before
Leave it all if you had it before
Turn it out if you wanted it more
If it was all wrong the first time
It's the last time
If I was born unbelieving
Unbelieving
He tried to be defined
And all the children whined
It killed the last of them
The King would fall again
Leave it all if you had it before
Turn it out if you wanted it more
If it was all wrong the first time
It's the last time
If I was born unbelieving
Unbelieving
Count Basie's song "The King" is a deeply introspective and emotive examination of the consequences of ignoring one's own conscience. The opening lines of "If I was listening / And knew I shouldn't be" suggest a sense of powerlessness, that the singer knows deep down that they are doing something wrong but are unable to resist the temptation. The line "Made all the threats again / The pain is deafening" implies that the singer may be threatening someone else or simply making promises they know they can't keep, but either way, the guilt and shame they feel is overwhelming.
The singer then imagines a scenario where they are on trial and the jury can't find them innocent. The line "Like many times before / They closed the coffin door" suggests that this isn't the first time the singer has engaged in dishonest or immoral behavior, and that their actions have led to the death of other aspects of their life. The repetition of the phrases "Leave it all if you had it before / Turn it out if you wanted it more" could be interpreted as the singer's inner voice urging them to give up the things they've gained through their wrongful actions, regardless of how much they may have wanted them in the past.
The middle section of the song takes a turn towards a more societal perspective, with references to attempts to define oneself and the complaints of children. It's possible that the "King" in the title is a metaphor for someone in a position of power, whether it be a political leader, a celebrity, or simply someone with a lot of influence. The final lines of the song, "If I was born unbelieving / Unbelieving," suggest a sense of pessimism about one's ability to change, a feeling that the singer was simply born with this innate sense of doubt and skepticism that they can't shake. Overall, "The King" is a powerful and poignant examination of the internal struggle between one's conscience and one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was listening
Despite knowing better, I was still paying attention
And knew I shouldn't be
And aware that it was not the right thing to do
Made all the threats again
Repeated the intimidation tactics that were previously used
The pain is deafening
The sorrow and discomfort is beyond words
The jury couldn't win
The legal team couldn't get the desired outcome
And put the verdict in
And issued the final decision
Like many times before
Similar to previous occurrences
They closed the coffin door
They sealed the casket
Leave it all if you had it before
Abandon everything that you had previously owned
Turn it out if you wanted it more
Renounce completely everything that you desperately chased after
If it was all wrong the first time
If the first attempt was inaccurate
It's the last time
It will be the final opportunity
If I was born unbelieving
If I was brought into this world with given lack of faith
Unbelieving
Doubting and lacking belief
He tried to be defined
He attempted to carve out a clear identity for himself
And all the children whined
And all the little ones complained
It killed the last of them
It was the cause of their untimely deaths
The King would fall again
The monarch would once again lose power and influence
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chuck Par-Due
The trumpet is Emmett Berry, the tenor is Illinois Jacquet, JJ Johnson on trombone.
Laurent James
Le jazz est une des branches les plus actives de la Restauration Monarchique.
harperbird96
who is that trumpet player?