During the 1950s and 1960s, Severinsen put out a number of albums of jazz standards, over which he performed very melodic solos. While not as much a "screamer" as Maynard Ferguson, Severinsen certainly had a well-developed high-note range, with an incredible amount of control and melodic sense. In the 1960s, Severinsen also recorded with the Clarke/Boland Big Band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. Severinsen was also the second trumpeter whose recording of the fanfare "Abblasen," composed by Gottfried Reiche, has been used as the theme for the CBS News program Sunday Morning.
During his years with the Tonight Show and afterwards, Severinsen released albums that had a pop-rock basis, some of which had electronic instrumentation components, such as "Brass Roots", "Good Medicine" and "Facets". These albums had varying degrees of acceptance by the public.
Although he has worked with jazz artists, most of his own recordings as a leader have consisted mainly of pop music. Several recent recordings feature him playing classical trumpet repertoire.
Severinsen was the principal pops conductor for several American orchestras during and after his tenure on the Tonight Show. His first was with the Phoenix Symphony in 1983. He held similar positions with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra.
He retired from active conducting in 2007, and was named Pops Conductor Emeritus in Milwaukee and Pops Conductor Laureate in Minnesota.
Severinsen was also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists at Arizona State University School of Music in 2001-2002
South
Doc Severinsen Lyrics
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Why should ev'rybody pity me,
Nighttime's falling, folks are a singin',
they dance till break of day
Dear Old Southland with it's dreamy songs
Takes me back there where I belong
How I'd love to be in mammy's arms
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
The lyrics to Doc Severinsen's song South evoke a sense of nostalgia and homesickness in the singer. The first line "Homesick tired" tells us directly that the singer is feeling down and drained while being alone in a big city. He is seeking comfort, and the next two lines suggest that he feels like people are pitying him. The line "Nighttime's falling, folks are a-singin'" creates a contrast that emphasizes how disconnected the singer feels. While people are enjoying themselves outside, he feels lost and disconnected from the atmosphere.
The next lines "Dear Old Southland with its dreamy songs / Takes me back there where I belong" do the heavy-lifting of the song. The singer is reminiscing about the South, which he calls his home. He mentions the dreamy songs of the South; perhaps he is referring to traditional blues or jazz music. The singer ends this verse with "How I'd love to be in mammy's arms / When It's Sleepy Time Down South," which suggests that he is missing his family and loved ones.
Overall, the song South is a reflection of the deep sense of displacement someone can feel when they are far from home. The lyrics evoke a powerful sentimentality for the South and its culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Homesick tired All alone in a big city
Feeling the deep longing and fatigue while being isolated from familiar surroundings in a large urban area.
Why should ev'rybody pity me,
Questioning the need for others to feel sorry for oneself.
Nighttime's falling, folks are a singin',
As the evening sets in, people around are enjoying their time by singing.
they dance till break of day
They continue to dance until it's daytime.
Dear Old Southland with it's dreamy songs
Thinking dearly of the southern state of America and its nostalgic melodies.
Takes me back there where I belong
Makes me reminisce of the old memories and feeling of belongingness in that place.
How I'd love to be in mammy's arms
Expressing a deep desire and yearning to be in the comforting embrace of one's mother.
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
Referring to the time when the southern state becomes slow-paced, relaxed, and calm - signaling a time for resting and sleeping.
Lyrics © OTIS RENE PUBLICATIONS, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Clarence Muse, Leon Rene, Otis Rene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind