The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era. The band survived the late-forties decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald in the fifties and sixties. The group continued to perform and record as a ‘ghost band’ after Count Basie’s death, and are currently under the leadership of Bill Hughes.
See also http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Count+Basie+and+His+Orchestra
Listen My Children
Count Basie & His Orchestra Lyrics
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Of the strangest thing
They say that I was born to swing
Listen my children and you shall hear
How I got the craze
From rocking in my cradle days
Now all the kids would go to sleep like other sons and daughters
Listen my children, though love is king
I can get along as long as there's a song to swing
Listen my children, though love is king
I can get along
I can get along
I can swing my song
As long as there's a song to swing
As long as there's a song to swing
The lyrics to Count Basie's song "Listen My Children and You Shall Hear" are a reflection on the artist's passion for swing music. Basie sings about his beginnings in swing music, suggesting that he was born to swing. He recalls his childhood, where while other children slept, his mother would sing him songs by Muddy Waters, a legendary blues musician. This exposure to blues music from a young age sparked Basie's passion for swing. He is able to get by in life as long as he has music to swing to, even though love may be king.
The song showcases Basie's love for swing music, which became popular in the 1930s and 1940s. The lyrics suggest that swing music is not just a genre, but a way of life for Basie. It is interesting to note that Basie came to fame as a jazz pianist, but his band played swing music, which helped popularize the genre. The song is a reflection of Basie's own experiences with swing music and how it became ingrained in his identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen my children and you shall hear
Pay attention to what I say, and I'll tell you a story
Of the strangest thing
About something unusual
They say that I was born to swing
People claim that swinging is in my blood
Listen my children and you shall hear
Pay attention to me, and I'll keep talking
How I got the craze
From where my obsession started
From rocking in my cradle days
As a baby, I enjoyed rocking back and forth
Now all the kids would go to sleep like other sons and daughters
Other children would go to bed, but not me
But not for me, my mother had to sing me Muddy Waters
My mother would sing me songs by Muddy Waters to put me to sleep
Listen my children, though love is king
Pay attention to this fact, even though love is typically seen as the most important thing
I can get along as long as there's a song to swing
I can be happy and content as long as there is music to swing
Listen my children, though love is king
I want to make sure you understand that love is important, but so is music
I can get along
I can manage and survive
I can swing my song
I can perform my music in a swinging rhythm
As long as there's a song to swing
If there's music to swing to, I will keep performing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RALPH FREED, BURTON LANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind