William “Count” Basie (see Count Basie) (1904 - 1984) was a jazz pianist, o… Read Full Bio ↴William “Count” Basie (see Count Basie) (1904 - 1984) was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader. He created a swing band in the early 1930s that was a favorite of many dancers and of vocalists including Billie Holiday.

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

Oh Lady Be Good
Count Basie & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen to my tale of woe,
It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.

I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,

With somebody just like you. So

Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.

Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,

So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.

Overall Meaning

In "Oh Lady Be Good", Count Basie & Kansas City Seven explore a common theme in music - loneliness. The singer is singing about their situation and expressing their desire to find a romantic partner who will make them feel loved and wanted. The singer states that they are "all dressed up, no place to go," suggesting that they are ready for a social outing but have no one to accompany them. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation as the singer expresses a strong desire to find someone and hints at their dissatisfaction with their current situation.

Throughout the song, the singer is pleading with an unknown "lady" to be good to them. They express that they are "awfully misunderstood" and that they are just a "lonesome babe in the wood." These lyrics suggest that the singer may have been rejected or misunderstood in the past, leading to their current state of loneliness. They are hoping that this lady will be able to see past their exterior and understand their true desires and needs.

Overall, "Oh Lady Be Good" is a passionate plea from a lonely person in search of love and companionship, one that many people can relate to. The melody and use of different instruments in the count Basie & Kansas City Seven version of the song only enhance the emotions that are being conveyed through the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen to my tale of woe,
Please lend me your ear and hear my sad story,

It's terribly sad but true,
Unfortunately, this really happened and it's a tragic situation,

All dressed up, no place to go
Even though I'm prepared and ready for a good time, I have nowhere to go,

Each evening I'm awfully blue.
Every night, I feel extremely sad and melancholy,

I must win some handsome guy
I need to attract a good-looking man in order to feel better about myself,

Can't go on like this,
I cannot continue living my life in this miserable state,

I could blossom out I know,
I have the potential to be happy and flourish if I find the right person,

With somebody just like you.
This person, whom I am singing to, would be the ideal partner to help me bloom.

So Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Therefore, I implore you, oh kind and lovely lady, to treat me well,

Oh, lady, be good to me
Please show me kindness and compassion,

I am so awfully misunderstood
People don't understand my plight and my pain, it's difficult to communicate my feelings to others,

So lady, be good to me
So I beg of you, please be good to me,

Oh, please have some pity,
I humbly ask for your sympathy and understanding,

I'm all-alone in this big city,
I'm lonely and isolated in this large metropolis,

I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
I'm like a small, helpless child lost in the wilderness, searching for love and companionship,

So lady be good to me.
Therefore, I beg of you once again, please be kind to me and help me find happiness.

Oh lady be good to me.
One final plea for kindness and understanding from the lady he's singing to.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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