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.
Them There Eyes
Earl Hines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was a beautiful song
Didn't have a care nor worry
Then you had to come along
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle, they bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
Maybe you think I'm all lies
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
Them there eyes
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
In "Them There Eyes," Earl Hines sings about falling in love at first sight and being enchanted by someone's eyes. The singer describes how they were content with their life before they met the person they fell in love with, but everything changed when they looked into "them there eyes." The song suggests that the person with the captivating eyes has a playful and flirtatious personality that draws the singer in. The lyrics are full of wordplay and double entendres, particularly around the phrase "them there eyes," which is used to describe the eyes in question but also alludes to the mischief and danger that lies behind them.
The song is a classic example of a romantic jazz standard and has been covered by countless artists over the years. It captures the feeling of falling head over heels in love and the joyful, carefree emotions that come with it. The jazzy melody adds to the playful, flirtatious vibe of the lyrics, creating a fun and upbeat atmosphere.
Overall, "Them There Eyes" is a timeless love song that celebrates the mystery and power of attraction. The lyrics capture the excitement and uncertainty of falling in love, while the music adds to the joyful, carefree mood.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just minding my business
I was going about my day without any troubles or distractions.
Life was a beautiful song
Everything was going great and life felt like a beautiful melody.
Didn't have a care nor worry
I had no worries or concerns to trouble me.
Then you had to come along
But then you entered my life and changed everything.
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
I fell in love with you at first sight when I looked into your eyes.
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
You have a unique and adorable way of flirting with your eyes.
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
Your eyes have the power to make me feel happy or sad, depending on their expression.
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
I am falling deeply in love with you and can't help it.
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
My heart is racing and I can't help but feel that you are the cause of it.
You'd better watch them if you're wise
If you are smart, you will be careful with your eyes and the signals they send.
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
Your eyes are so expressive and captivating that they are sure to get you in trouble one day.
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
Your eyes are working too hard and there may be danger associated with their constant use.
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
Maybe you think I'm all lies
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
Them there eyes
You might think that I am only flirting, or not being truthful with my feelings, but it's just because I become romantic when I look into your eyes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Francisco Ferreira de Souza
Earl`` Fatha`` Hines the great legend .Too cool...............................
Sergey Magel
Great Retro. Pleasant Evening.
JazzyBernard
You are welcome. Good Night