His professional career began in 1954 as an original member of Ray Charles' Band.
Newman had a prolific recording and performing career.
Newman got his nickname in high school music class. Mr. Miller, his then music teacher, saw his music upside down on the stand, and knowing that Newman couldn't read music very well at the time, walked over and tapped him on his head with the conductor's baton and called him "Fathead." The entire classroom laughed, and Newman, having good humor, did not find it derogatory.[citation needed] The name has stuck with him ever since. But he, himself, has said he prefers to be called "David."
He moved to Dallas, where he graduated from Lincoln High School. After high school, he started playing flute and tenor saxophone at local shows. He then received a scholarship to Jarvis Christian College, where he studied theology and music. Newman stayed in college for two years and decided to move onto the road to further his music career. He played with Buster Smith, Charlie Parker's mentor, and the band played many one-nighters and performed at many dance halls all over the central United States.
At one of these many gigs, David met Ray Charles. There was an immediate bond between the two.
In 1954, David joined Charles in his band as the baritone saxophone player (although he is more famous as a tenor saxophone and flute player) and began a twelve year gig with Charles. He later joined Herbie Mann, with whom he played for another ten years.
Over the years up to 2005, Newman has recorded over thirty-five albums under his own name, including his first, Ray Charles-Presenting David "Fathead" Newman (1959) and second, Wide Open Spaces, which was produced by Cannonball Adderley, the following year.
Always a musicians' musician, Newman is best known for his hard bop style that has influenced whole generations of saxophone players of different genres. He has also played R&B and blues, appearing on recordings with Stanley Turrentine, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, the Average White Band, Jimmy McGriff, Eric Clapton, Natalie Cole, Hank Crawford, Aaron Neville, Queen Latifah, Richard Tee, Dr. John and Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Willow Weep For Me
David "Fathead" Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Willow weep for me
Bend your branches green along the stream that runs to sea
Listen to my plea
Hear me willow and weep for me
Gone my lovers dream
Lovely summer dream
Sad as I can be
Hear me willow and weep for me
Whisper to the wind and say that love has sinned
Left my heart a-breaking, and making a moan
Murmur to the night to hide its starry light
So none will see me sighing and crying all alone
Weeping willow tree
Weep in sympathy
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
When the shadows fall, hear me willow and weep for me
Oh, weeping willow tree
Weep in sympathy
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
When the shadows fall, hear me willow and weep for me
In the song Willow Weep for Me, David "Fathead" Newman sings about a willow tree by a stream and pleads with it to weep for him. He is heartbroken as his lover has left him and all he can do is cry. Throughout the song, he asks the willow to bend down its branches and cover him when the shadows fall so that he can hide his tears. He also asks the tree to whisper to the wind and the night to hide his pain and make him feel less alone.
The willow tree in the song may represent a symbol of comfort to the singer. As he pleads with the tree, it is like he is pleading with the universe to comfort him and ease his pain. The use of personification in the song, where the willow is given human-like qualities, adds an emotional depth to the lyrics.
The lyrics of Willow Weep for Me have a melancholic tone to them and express feelings of heartbreak and loneliness. The song has been covered by several artists over the years and has become a jazz standard.
Line by Line Meaning
Willow weep for me
I am sad and alone, please cry with me, willow tree
Willow weep for me
I need someone to share my sadness and cry with me, willow tree
Bend your branches green along the stream that runs to sea
Please show your sorrow and emotions, willow tree
Listen to my plea
Pay attention to my sadness and cry with me, willow tree
Hear me willow and weep for me
Please feel my pain and cry with me, willow tree
Gone my lovers dream
The person I loved is no longer with me, and my dreams are shattered
Lovely summer dream
I had wonderful hopes and dreams for my future
Gone and left me here to weep my tears into the stream
They have abandoned me, and I am crying uncontrollably
Sad as I can be
I am feeling incredibly lonely and crestfallen right now
Hear me willow and weep for me
Please share my sadness and cry with me, willow tree
Whisper to the wind and say that love has sinned
Tell everyone that my love has hurt me and is responsible for my sadness
Left my heart a-breaking, and making a moan
My heart is shattered and I'm in agony
Murmur to the night to hide its starry light
Please keep the night sky dark and gloomy so no one can see me crying
So none will see me sighing and crying all alone
So I can cry without anyone observing me, and be free to grieve privately
Weeping willow tree
A tree that is symbolic of crying and grief
Weep in sympathy
Cry for me, and share in my sorrow
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
Comfort me in your greenery, and provide me with cover to hide and cry in peace
When the shadows fall, hear me willow and weep for me
When I am feeling my lowest, please share my feelings and cry with me, willow tree
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bobblues1158
The REAL THING!!!!!
@younique90
one of my fav jazz albums ot this day
@Ihy744ppp
Excellent Lp..still searching for it..