Sanborn, who suffered from polio in his youth, has been a highly regarded session player since the mid 1970s. One of his first professional gigs was as a member of Paul Butterfield's band. One of Sanborn's earliest guest recordings was on David Bowie's Young Americans. Around this time his output as a session player became prolific and over the next ten years he played with a dazzling array of artists, such as Paul Simon, James Taylor (contributing to the remake of the Marvin Gaye classic "How Sweet It Is"), The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Stevie Wonder.
In the late 1980s he was a regular guest member of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman. From 1988-89, he co-hosted a late-night TV music show on NBC with Jools Holland. The show, "Night Music", following producer Hal Willner's eclectic approach, drew Sanborn together with many famed musicians, such as Miles Davis, Lou Reed, Santana, Curtis Mayfield, and many others.
Throughout his career, Sanborn has skirted the edges of free jazz: In his youth he studied with Roscoe Mitchell and Julius Hemphill, and performed on Tim Berne's Diminutive Mysteries, dedicated to Hemphill. His 1991 album Another Hand, produced by Hal Willner, features Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, and various other players not usually associated with smooth jazz.
In television, Sanborn is well-known for his sax solo in the theme song for the NBC hit drama L.A. Law. He has also dabbled in writing for film, contributing to such scores as Lethal Weapon and Scrooged.
In 2004, David Sanborn was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
You can find photographs and additional information on David's official website, www.DavidSanborn.com.
Bang Bang
David Sanborn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
be be
ahhh
be be
ahhh
bang bang
bang bang
bang bang
you're killin' me baby, you're killin'
The lyrics to David Sanborn's song Bang Bang seem to be very simple and repetitive, with the majority of the words being "bang bang." However, the few words that are there are very powerful and suggestive. The song starts with the Latin counting, "uno dos tres quattro," which is a universal way of counting, indicating that the song is open to interpretation and can be understood by everyone. The "be be" and "ahhh" sounds following this add to the rhythm and beat of the song, making it more fun and energetic.
The repetition of the phrase "bang bang" seems to be referencing the sound of guns firing, but it can also be interpreted as the sound of the heart beating fast, which is in line with the next phrase "you're killin' me baby, you're killin'." This could suggest that the song is about romantic love and the effect it can have on a person's heart. The use of the word "baby" may also indicate that this is a love song, and the reference to being killed shows a sense of vulnerability and passion towards the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
uno dos tres quattro
Counting up in Spanish
be be
Sound effects to create a beat
ahhh
Expressing excitement or frustration
bang bang
Sound effects imitating gunshots
you're killin' me baby, you're killin'
The artist is being emotionally hurt or overwhelmed by their partner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALVIN J. FIELDS, MICHAEL JAMES ZAGER, CUBA, SABATU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind