Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
Basin Street Blues
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
The first stanza of the song Basin Street Blues invites the listener on a musical journey down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, the land of dreams. The tone is upbeat and joyful, with a feeling of new adventure in the air. The second stanza depicts the warm welcome the singer receives from old friends and the elite folks of the city, in a place they call “heaven on earth”, referring to Basin Street. The same enthusiasm and excitement continues, with the singer proclaiming that Basin Street is where the “best folks always meet”. The overall message of the song is that Basin Street is a magical and welcoming place, where one can forget their sorrows and let their hair down.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Would you be willing to join me?
To the Mississippi
To the river named Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We'll board a ship that will take us to a place we've always dreamed of
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
We'll travel by steamer ship all the way to the city of New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Upon arrival, there will be a group of talented musicians ready to greet us
Old friends there to greet us
We'll also find our long-time known companions to welcome us warmly
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
The destination, Basin Street is a place where only the most respected and high-class residents gather
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
The locals of Basin Street believe it's the closest thing to heaven on earth
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the name of the street
Where the best folks always meet
The most excellent people always congregate here
You'll never know how nice it seems,
It's unmatched niceties will daze you,
Or just how much it really means
You won't comprehend the depths of its worth to local residents.
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
I'm delighted to be there
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where hospitality comes at no cost and means so much to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
The place where I can escape from my melancholy and enjoy the life around me
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
The street, Basin Street
Is the street, mama
Is the street, my love/affectionate term of endearment
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, the place where people go to fulfill their dreams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Montross
I love Dave's playing. And I think he is a great and innovative composer. His stuff should be go to on any jazz lover's short list. That being said, not all gifted composers are gifted improvisers. This is yet another recording that is amazing, but Desmond and the composition is why. When I told my music PhD friend that Brubeck is a sub par improviser, you would have thought I told him 2+2 is 5. Again, great compositions, innovative ideas, beloved music, but the improv magic doesn't happen during his spotlight. There. Have at me.
John Benn
WOW
Totally agree with Sam.
In my opinion this is the number one jazz quartet of all time.
Amazing sounds & so,so good.
From a 72yo Aussie fan.
Samuel Agyakwa
Great Bass, great swing, great saxophone, great piano...Masterpiece.
robert nole
BRUBECK HAS GOT CLASS AND STYLE. HIS MUSIC SPEAKS FOR ITS SELF.
Elias Morales
Genius.
Elias Morales
Holy shit this was uploaded by an otaku. You go man.
60otaku4
Thank you so much, Elias-san!!
Otaku4 (^_^)/
Azul Fourcade
Hahaha you made me laugh 😂
木内bin
言葉と感覚の移り変わり。
ﾌﾞﾙｰﾍﾞｯｸは昔「ﾋｯﾌﾟでなくｸｰﾙだからカッコ悪い」的意見が多。今ｸｰﾙでｶｯｹｰ