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 Know That You Know
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ev'ry chap should hold a heart that's all his own
Love may come at first sight, they told me
When I saw you, I knew
That I had found my only love
When I found you
So, darling, I know that you know
I choose you, won't lose you
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
This time is my time
T'will soon be goodbye time
Then in the star light, hold me tight
With one more little kiss say nighty night
So, darling, I know that you know
That I'll go where you go
I choose you, won't lose you
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
The lyrics to Earl Hines's song "I Know That You Know" speak of the importance of love in life and how it is vital to have a special someone to share it with. The first few lines highlight the fact that life is like a game and that it is impossible to play it alone. Everyone needs someone they can call their own, a heart they can share everything with. The songwriter believes in love at first sight, and when he saw his lover, he knew he had found his only love.
The lyricist goes on to express his love for his partner, saying that he'll go wherever they go, and he chooses not to lose them. He wishes he could communicate the depth of his feelings for his lover and tells them how much he wants to hold them in his arms. Towards the end of the song, the singer knows their time together is ticking away, but they still want to make the most of their final moments, with a kiss and a hug, before saying goodnight.
Line by Line Meaning
Life's a game, but who can play it all alone
Life is unpredictable and challenging, and it's hard to face alone. Everyone needs someone to share their experiences with.
Ev'ry chap should hold a heart that's all his own
Everyone deserves to have a special someone in their life who loves and cares for them unconditionally.
Love may come at first sight, they told me
People say that love can happen instantly, without much thought or hesitation.
When I saw you, I knew
The moment I met you, I felt a strong connection and knew that there was something special between us.
That I had found my only love
I felt that you were the one I had been looking for, and that no one else could compare to you.
So, darling, I know that you know
I am aware that you understand how I feel about you, and that you feel the same way.
That I'll go where you go
I am committed to being by your side and following you wherever you go.
I choose you, won't lose you
You are my first choice, and I will do everything in my power to keep you in my life.
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
I want you to understand how much I desire to be close to you, and to feel the warmth of your embrace.
This time is my time
This moment belongs to us, and I want to make the most of it.
T'will soon be goodbye time
Our time together is coming to an end, and I don't want to waste a single moment.
Then in the star light, hold me tight
As we say goodbye, I want to hold you close and cherish every moment we have left together.
With one more little kiss say nighty night
As we part ways, I want to seal this moment with one last tender kiss.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANNE CALDWELL, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind