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.
Pennies From Heaven
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
You'll find your fortune's fallin', baby, all over the town
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
The lyrics to Earl Hines's song "Pennies From Heaven" are a metaphorical representation of the idea that when it rains, it pours. The rain in this case, symbolizes the different trials and tribulations that we go through in life, and how they can lead to moments of good luck and fortune. The idea of pennies falling from the sky, as the song suggests, is a metaphor for the unexpected blessings that can come from difficult times.
The second stanza of the song emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude and being prepared for these blessings. The lyrics "Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers / If you want the things you love, you must have showers" suggests that while there will be tough times, you must be open to receive the good that comes out of them.
The chorus in "Pennies From Heaven" reinforces the idea that good things will come to those who have faith and are patient. It states that when you hear the thunder, don't run under a tree, because there will be pennies from heaven for you and me. This line emphasizes the importance of not giving up when times get tough, but rather trusting that everything is going to work out in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven
Whenever it rains, there is a financial blessing waiting for us
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
Don't you know that even the gloomiest of situations can bring good fortune?
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Fortune is all around us, just waiting for us to collect it
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Make sure you are open and ready to receive blessings
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
Exchange your financial blessings for happiness and joy
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
If you want to achieve your dreams, you must endure hardships
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Do not seek refuge in the wrong places
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
Good fortune awaits us all
Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Any time it rains, we should expect good things to come our way
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
Even in the darkest situations, there are blessings waiting for us
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Make sure you are prepared to receive blessings
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
Strive through the hardships and you will achieve your dreams
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
Good fortune is waiting for all of us
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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