David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord, California - Decemb… Read Full Bio ↴David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord, California - December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist who has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". He was probably best known for "Take Five", written by saxophone player Paul Desmond, who was the saxophonist in The Dave Brubeck Quartet. Due to the immense popularity of his work, Brubeck had won multiple awards such as a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys in 1996, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship in 1999, and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009.

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.

Bye Bye Blues
Dave Brubeck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a big surprise when I saw you smile
I never dreamed that it could be
But now I realize since I saw you smile
There's only happiness for me
So
Bye bye blues
Bye bye blues

Bells ring
Birds sing
Sun is shining
No more pining
Just we two
Smiling thru
Don't sigh
Don't cry

Bye bye blues
Blues

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dave Brubeck's song "Bye Bye Blues" convey the joy and happiness experienced upon seeing someone smile. The singer expresses surprise at witnessing this smile and realizing that it brings them immense happiness. The repetition of "Bye bye blues" emphasizes a departure from sadness or melancholy as the singer bids farewell to the blues.

The first verse emphasizes the transformative power of a smile and how it changes the singer's perspective. The second verse describes a world full of positive elements such as bells ringing, birds singing, and the sun shining. These elements symbolize a newfound sense of optimism and a departure from previous feelings of longing or sadness. The final lines encourage the listener to refrain from sighing or crying, suggesting that the blues have been replaced by happiness.

Overall, the song's lyrics highlight the transformative power of a smile, illustrating how it can bring joy and happiness, and ultimately help overcome the blues.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a big surprise when I saw you smile
Upon witnessing your smile, I experienced an unexpected and significant moment of joy and delight

I never dreamed that it could be
I had never imagined or anticipated such a wonderful occurrence

But now I realize since I saw you smile
However, now I comprehend and understand that ever since witnessing your smile

There's only happiness for me
My life is filled solely with joy and contentment

So
Consequently

Bye bye blues
Farewell to feelings of sadness or melancholy

Bells ring
The sound of bells resonates in the air

Birds sing
The melodious tunes of birds fill the atmosphere

Sun is shining
The radiant sun illuminates the surroundings

No more pining
There is an end to longing or yearning

Just we two
Only the two of us together

Smiling thru
Continually expressing happiness through our smiles

Don't sigh
Please refrain from deep breaths laden with sadness

Don't cry
Do not shed tears of despair

Bye bye blues
Goodbye to feelings of sorrow or dejection

Blues
Emotional distress or unhappiness

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bert Lown, Chauncey Gray, David Bennett, Frederick L Hamm

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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