Creole Love Call
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep, keep
Keep, keep
Keep, keep
When I'm calling you
Dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop
Will you answer too?
Dop-dee-dop-dee-dop-dop-dop
(All time, all time)
That means I offer my love to you to be your own
If you refuse me, I will be blue and waiting all alone
But when you hear my love call ringing clear
(Oh hear, oh hear)
And I hear your answering echo so dear
(Oh echo, oh echo)
Then I will know our love will become true
You'll belong to me, I'll belong to you
The Duke Ellington & His Orchestra's song Creole Love Call is a romantic jazz ballad that incorporates vocalizations, low brass accents and intricate drumming. The song begins with the repetition of the word "keep" four times, which acts as a precursor to the subsequent "Dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop," an onomatopoeic depiction of the love call. The lyrics, though simple and repetitive, convey the intensity of the artist's feelings for his lover. He expresses his emotional vulnerability to the listener, admitting that if his love call receives no response, he will sink into despair and loneliness.
The chorus reinforces the theme of longing, as the singer implores his lover to respond to his call. The lines "But when you hear my love call ringing clear and I hear your answering echo so dear, then I will know our love will become true / You'll belong to me, I'll belong to you" depict a narrative of two souls being united through the bonds of romantic love. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, concluding on a note of anticipation and expectancy, expressing that the singer will continue to call out to his lover until he receives a response.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep, keep
Continued repetition of a percussive sound to signify the start of a call or summoning
Keep, keep
Continued repetition of a percussive sound to signify the start of a call or summoning
Keep, keep
Continued repetition of a percussive sound to signify the start of a call or summoning
Keep, keep
Continued repetition of a percussive sound to signify the start of a call or summoning
When I'm calling you
Asking if the listener is available to receive the artist's message of affection
Dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop
A musical way of expressing the tone of the singer's voice in calling out to the listener
(All right, all right)
A confirmation of the singer's positive intent towards the listener
Will you answer too?
Questioning whether the listener reciprocates the artist's feelings
Dop-dee-dop-dee-dop-dop-dop
A musical way of expressing the listener's potential response of equal affection
(All time, all time)
An affirmation of the listener's consistent love towards the artist
That means I offer my love to you to be your own
Explaining the singer's willingness to give all of their love to the listener in hopes of starting a romantic relationship
If you refuse me, I will be blue and waiting all alone
Warning the listener of the potential heartbreak and loneliness the artist would feel if they were to be rejected
But when you hear my love call ringing clear
Anticipating the listener's positive response to the singer's romantic gesture
(Oh hear, oh hear)
An exclamation of the singer's excitement and hope for a happy outcome
And I hear your answering echo so dear
Emphasizing the importance of the listener's enthusiastic and affectionate response
(Oh echo, oh echo)
An ecstatic reaction to the listener's positive reaction
Then I will know our love will become true
Confirming that mutual feelings of love have been established, setting the foundation for a successful relationship
You'll belong to me, I'll belong to you
Establishing the mutual commitment between the singer and listener to a romantic relationship
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto A. Harbach, Rudolf Friml
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@petertaylor3600
Wonderful stuff. I met Duke once, years ago when he was touring in Australia. I never forgot. I still have the autograph to prove it, too.
@shaunthompson7105
Wow, that must have been amazing
@pascalg.5951
"...and the sultans played creole...", Mark Knopfler, Sultans of swing.
@pieropieri8944
Dedicatissimo a chi ama il jazz in tutte le sue sfumature...imperdibile la sordina per bravura, fantasia...e simpatia. :)))
@lucasamtab
di piu' che delicato..vellutato :)
@mariop.9205
E che bellissimo omaggio al King
@radiogramgramophonetoons5802
Can’t beat some Duke Ellington. Wish I had a copy of this on 78rpm
@ally647
We are playing this in my jazz band <3 I'm in love
@LouisDefaux
Awesome jazz music.
@philpots48
Wow, I love the Adelaide Hall version when she sings trumpet like and this one is great too.