In 1928 (on his 25th birthday) Hines began leading his own big band. For over 10 years his was "The Band" in Al Capone's Grand Terrace Cafe — Hines was Capone's "Mr Piano Man". Hines recorded for Victor in 1929, then after a gap for Brunswick from 1932-1934, Decca from 1934-1935, then after another gap, Vocalion from 1937-1938 and Bluebird from 1939-1942 (nearly all among the best Black Jazz of the era). From the Grand Terrace, The Earl Hines Orchestra (or "Organization" as he more happily referred to it) broadcast on "open mikes", sometimes five nights a week and over many years, coast to coast across America — Chicago being well placed to deal with the U.S. live-broadcasting time-zone problem. Hines's band became the most broadcast band in America. Sometimes Nat "King" Cole was Hines's relief pianist (though Cliff Smalls was his favorite) and it was here with Hines that Charlie Parker got his first professional job...until he was fired for his time-keeping — by which Hines meant Parker's inability to show up on time despite Parker resorting to sleeping under the Grand Terrace stage in his attempts to do so. Hines led his big band until 1947, taking time out to front the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1944 while Duke was ill...but the big-band era was over. (Thirty years later, Hines's 20 solo "transformative versions" of his "Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington" recorded in the 1970s were described by Ben Ratliff in the "New York Times" as "as good an example of the jazz process as anything out there".)
At the start of 1949 Hines rejoined Armstrong in the latter's "All Stars" "small band", where Hines stayed through 1951. He then led his own small combo around the States and Europe. At the start of the jazz-lean 1960s he settled in Oakland, California, opened a tobacconist's, and came close to giving up the profession. Then, in 1964 Hines was "suddenly rediscovered" following a series of concerts in New York. He was the 1965 "Critics' Choice" for Down Beat Magazine's "Hall of Fame". From then till he died he recorded endlessly both solo and with jazz notables like Cat Anderson, Buck Clayton, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Greer, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Jimmy Rushing, Stuff Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Venuti and Ben Webster. Possibly more surprising were Elvin Jones, Peggy Lee, Charles Mingus, Dinah Washington — and Ry Cooder. But his most acclaimed recordings of this period were his dazzling and endlessly inventive solo performances, which could show him at his very best, "a whole orchestra by himself".[12] Solo tributes to Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin were all put on record in the 1970s. Hines also toured Europe again regularly at this time, and added Asia, Australia and the Soviet Union to his list of State Department–funded destinations. At the top of his form, Hines also displayed his endearing quirks (not to say grunts) in these performances. Sometimes he sang as he played, especially his own "They Never Believed I Could Do It - Neither Did I". In 1975 he made an hour-long "solo" film for British TV out-of-hours in a Washington nightclub: the "New York Herald Tribune" described it as "The greatest jazz-film ever made". He played solo in The White House and played solo for the Pope — and played (and sang) his last job a few days before he died in Oakland, quite likely somewhat older than he had always maintained.
I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when you smiled at me,
In my heart I felt a thrill you see,
That it was love at sight and
I was right to love you as I do.
Still I never dreamed that you could love me too.
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
You're telling ev'ry one I know
I'm on your mind each place we go
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
I have always placed you far above me.
I just can't imagine that you love me.
And after all is said and done,
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
Skies are gray. I'm blue each day
When you are not around.
Ev'ry thing goes wrong, my dear I've found
But when you're by my side I fill with pride
For I'm so proud of you
It all seems too good to me to all be true
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
I never knew what they could do.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
You're telling ev'ry one I know
I'm on your mind each place we go
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
I have always placed you far above me.
I just can't imagine that you love me.
And after all is said and done,
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
The lyrics of Earl Hines's song "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me" speak of the singer's disbelief and gratitude that their love interest reciprocates their feelings. The first stanza describes the moment when the singer first fell in love, feeling a "thrill" upon seeing their love interest's smile. The second stanza references the singer's insecurities, as they never thought that their love interest could love them back. However, the singer is overwhelmed with the realization that they are the "lucky one" in the relationship.
The third stanza begins with a nod to the classic trope of sad love songs - the "skies are gray" and the singer is "blue" without their love interest. However, their spirits are lifted when they are together, and the singer is "proud" of their love interest. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, solidifying the singer's disbelief and gratitude for their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me" express a sense of awe and amazement that the singer has found someone who loves them back, despite their own doubts and insecurities. The song is a testament to the transformative power of love and the joy that can come from finding a reciprocated connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday you came my way,
I remember the day clearly when you crossed my path
And when you smiled at me,
I felt a sense of excitement inside of me
In my heart I felt a thrill you see,
My heart raced with anticipation of the possibility of love
That it was love at sight and
I knew immediately that I was in love
I was right to love you as I do.
My instincts were correct and my love for you is justified
Still I never dreamed that you could love me too.
However, I never thought that you could ever return the same love to me
Your eyes of blue, your kisses too,
Your eyes and your kisses have a powerful effect on me
I never knew what they could do.
I didn't realize the extent of their impact on my emotions
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
It's hard for me to accept that you reciprocate my feelings
You're telling ev'ry one I know
You're sharing with everyone that we're in love
I'm on your mind each place we go
I'm constantly on your mind and you make that clear to others
They can't believe that you're in love with me.
Others are amazed that you love me
I have always placed you far above me.
I have always viewed you as being better than me in every way
I just can't imagine that you love me.
It's hard for me to come to terms with the fact that you love me
And after all is said and done,
Despite any doubts or fears, when everything is considered,
To think that I'm the lucky one.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that I am the one you love
I can't believe that you're in love with me.
I still can't wrap my head around the fact that you love me
Skies are gray. I'm blue each day
My mood is affected when you're not around
When you are not around.
I miss you when you're not with me
Ev'ry thing goes wrong, my dear I've found
Things tend to go sour when you're not present with me
But when you're by my side I fill with pride
However, when you're with me I feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment
For I'm so proud of you
I feel a deep sense of admiration and respect for you
It all seems too good to me to all be true
It's difficult for me to fully accept and comprehend the fact that you love me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE GASKILL, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Whitehead
Fatha A jazz originator - privileged to see him in UK and Europe