Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was a jazz drummer. Elvi… Read Full Bio ↴Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was a jazz drummer. Elvin began playing professionally in the 1940s, working with the Army Special Services program, Operation Happiness, and in 1949 had a short-lived gig in Detroit's Grand River Street club. Eventually he went on to play with artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Wardell Gray. In 1955, after a failed audition for the Benny Goodman band, he found work in New York, joining Charles Mingus's band, and releasing a record called J is for Jazz.

In 1960, he joined with the classic John Coltrane Quartet, which also included bassist Jimmy Garrison and pianist McCoy Tyner. Jones and Coltrane often played extended duet passages, both giving and taking energy through their instruments. This band is widely considered to have redefined "swing" (the rhythmic feel of jazz) in much the same way that Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker et al did during earlier stages of jazz's development. He stayed with Coltrane until 1966. By that time, Jones was not entirely comfortable with the direction Coltrane was moving in and his polyrhythmic style clashed with the "multidirectional" approach of the group's second drummer, Rashied Ali.

After leaving the Coltrane group, Jones played with Duke Ellington, and eventually formed his own touring group. Jazz Machine, normally a quintet, continued in the same musical direction. His sense of timing, polyrhythms, dynamics, timbre, and legato phrasing - as well as the sheer mass of sound he produced - brought the drumset to the fore. Jones was touted by Life Magazine as "the world's greatest rhythmic drummer", and his free-flowing style was a major influence on many leading rock drummers, including Mitch Mitchell (whom Jimi Hendrix called "my Elvin Jones") and Ginger Baker.

This Love Of Mine
Elvin Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This love of mine, goes on and on
Though life is empty, since you have gone
You're always on my mind, though out of sight
It's lonesome through the day and all the night

I cry my heart my out, it's bound to break
Since nothin' matters, then let it break
I ask the sun and the moon, the stars that shine

What's to become of it, this love of mine?

I cry my heart my out, it's bound to break
Since nothin' matters, then let it break

I ask the sun and the moon, the stars that shine
What's to become of it, this love of mine?

Overall Meaning

In Elvin Jones's song "This Love of Mine," the lyrics speak of someone who is struggling to move on from a love that has been lost. The first line repeats "This love of mine, goes on and on," suggesting that this is a love that never truly fades, no matter how much time passes. Yet, the second line reveals that despite the love's endurance, the singer's life feels empty now that their partner is gone. This feeling of emptiness is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "It's lonesome through the day and all the night."

The singer's emotions become more intense as the song progresses. The line "I cry my heart out, it's bound to break" shows the depth of their pain and the sense of hopelessness they feel in trying to move on. The line "Since nothin' matters, then let it break" suggests that the singer feels there is nothing left for them to do but let themselves be consumed by their feelings. The repetition of the lines "I ask the sun and the moon, the stars that shine / What's to become of it, this love of mine?" shows the singer's desperation to understand what the future holds for them and their love.

Overall, "This Love Of Mine" speaks to the pain and complexity of love and how it can endure even in absence. The song suggests that sometimes in the face of heartbreak, the best thing to do is simply let ourselves feel the emotions and ask the universe for guidance.

Line by Line Meaning

This love of mine, goes on and on
My love for you is constant and never ending

Though life is empty, since you have gone
I feel a void in my life since you left me

You're always on my mind, though out of sight
Even though you're not physically present, you're always in my thoughts

It's lonesome through the day and all the night
I feel lonely throughout the day and night without you

I cry my heart my out, it's bound to break
I'm so overwhelmed with emotions that I'm on the verge of a breakdown

Since nothin' matters, then let it break
I feel like there's nothing left to live for if you're not with me, so let me just break

I ask the sun and the moon, the stars that shine
I'm looking for answers and guidance from the universe

What's to become of it, this love of mine?
I'm questioning the fate of my love for you and what will happen to it in the future

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sol Parker, Henry W. Sanicola, Frank Sinatra

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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