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.
Yesterdays
Count Basie Lyrics
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Days I knew as happy
Sweet sequester days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free and flaming life
Sad am I, glad am I
For today I’m dreaming of yesterdays
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Days I knew as happy
Sweet sequester days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free and flaming life
Forsooth, was mine
Sad am I, glad am I
For today I’m dreaming of yesterdays
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Days I knew as happy
Sweet sequester days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free and flaming life
Forsooth, was mine
Sad am I, glad am I
For today I’m dreaming of yesterdays
Yesterdays
The song Yesterdays by Count Basie is a nostalgic ballad about days gone by. The lyrics express a longing for the happy, carefree days of the past, and the memories of joyous free and flaming life. The singer reflects on the olden days of mad romance and love, and how they were once full of truth and happiness. The sweet sequester days are remembered fondly, reminding the singer of the golden days when gay youth was theirs.
However, there is a sense of sadness and regret that comes with this longing for yesterdays. The singer is now sad, but simultaneously glad, as they dream of days long gone, when they were free from the constraints of time and lived in the moment. The repeated refrain of "yesterdays" emphasizes the theme of nostalgia and the idea that the past is now out of reach.
Overall, the lyrics of Yesterdays capture the wistful feeling of looking back on happier times with a sense of longing and regret. The song evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for a time that is forever gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Reflecting back upon the past, yearning for days that have gone by.
Days I knew as happy
Days where happiness was plentiful and easy to find.
Sweet sequester days
Days of peaceful seclusion and retreat.
Olden days, golden days
Days long gone that hold a special place in memory, filled with a sense of nostalgia and golden memories.
Days of mad romance and love
Days filled with passionate love and romance, burning with intensity and emotion.
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
In the past, there was carefree joy, and an undeniable truth about oneself.
Joyous free and flaming life
Life was once filled with a bright, uncontained joy and passion, unbridled by the harsh realities of the world.
Forsooth, was mine
Indeed, it was completely mine to cherish and savor.
Sad am I, glad am I
Feeling both sadness and happiness at once, acknowledging the beauty of the past and the ache of being unable to return to it.
For today I’m dreaming of yesterdays
Longing to relive the past, unable to move forward from the memories that still hold power over the present.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEROME KERN, OTTO HARBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind