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.
Trolley Song
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
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"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
For the moment I saw him I fell
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He asked my name I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
"Buzz, buzz, buzz" went the buzzer
"Plop, plop, plop" went the wheels
"Stop, stop, stop" went my heartstrings
As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and it was grand
Just to stand with his hand holding mine
All the way to the end of the line
The Trolley Song by Dave Brubeck tells the story of a woman who gets attracted to a man she meets on a trolley ride. The sounds of the trolley, the motor, the brake, the buzzer, and the wheels create a musical backdrop for the budding romance between the two characters. The woman describes how her heartstrings zing and thump when she sees and talks to the man, indicating her growing feelings towards him.
Despite being too nervous to speak to him initially, she gathers the courage to ask for his name. When the man is about to leave the trolley, the woman takes hold of his sleeve, hoping that he would stay with her, which he does. The experience is nothing short of grand, with the two holding hands until the end of the line, encapsulating the joy of falling in love.
The lyrics of the song are whimsical and playful, keeping in line with the joyful spirit of the music. The use of onomatopoeia creates a rich soundscape of the journey, and the woman's emotions are conveyed through the sound effects as well. The song is a celebration of love at first sight, and the magic of a chance encounter that changes one's life forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
The trolley made a loud noise as it moved down the tracks
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
The bell made a loud, clear sound to signal the trolley's arrival
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings, for the moment I saw him I fell
I felt a sudden, electric attraction to him as soon as I laid eyes on him
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
The trolley's motor made a rhythmic, repetitive noise
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
The trolley's brake made a series of jarring, bumpy stops
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings, when he smiled, I could feel the car shake
I felt my heart beat faster and harder when he smiled, and it felt like the whole trolley was shaking with excitement
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He greeted me politely and then found a place to sit
He said, "Hope I haven't stepped upon your feet"
He apologized for the possibility that he might have accidentally stepped on my feet
He asked my name, I held my breath
I was so nervous that I couldn't speak when he asked for my name
I couldn't speak, because he scared me half to death
I was so overwhelmed by his presence that I was too scared to say anything
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
The trolley's buzzer made a loud, insistent noise to signal that someone had requested to get off at the next stop
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
The trolley's wheels made a steady, rhythmic sound as it moved along the tracks
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings, as he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
I felt a strong sense of sadness and longing as he started to leave, and I reached out to him in a desperate attempt to keep him from going
And as if it were planned, he stayed on with me and it was grand
To my amazement and joy, he chose to stay with me on the trolley
Just to stand with his hand holding mine, all the way to the end of the line
We stood together, holding hands, for the entire trip to the end of the trolley's route
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind