Erskine Hawkins (July 26, 1914 – November 11, 1993) was an American trumpet… Read Full Bio ↴Erskine Hawkins (July 26, 1914 – November 11, 1993) was an American trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" (1939) with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. The song became a popular hit during World War II, rising to No. 7 nationally (version by the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra) and to No. 1 nationally (version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra). Vocalists who were featured with Erskine's orchestra include Ida James, Delores Brown and Della Reese.

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was named after Alabama industrialist Erskine Ramsay who was rewarding parents with savings accounts for them for doing so.
Hawkins attended Councill Elementary School and Industrial High School (now known as Parker High School) in Birmingham, Alabama. At Industrial High School, he played in the band directed by Fess Whatley, a teacher who trained numerous African-American musicians, many of whom populated the bands of famed band leaders such as Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Louis Armstrong and Skitch Henderson (of the NBC Orchestra.)
Hawkins was trumpeter and band leader in the lobby bar and show nightclub at The Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York. from 1967 to 1993 with his last performing group Joe Vitale piano, Dudly Watson bass, Sonny Rossi vocals & clarinet, and George Leary drums . Hawkins died in Willingboro, New Jersey in November 1993, after a brief visit with his sister in Alabama before he was able to return to resume playing with his band at the Concord at the age of 79. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, alongside his sister, in Birmingham, Alabama.
In 1978, Erskine Hawkins became one of the first five artists inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. In 1989, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hawkins was a contemporary of another Birmingham jazz musician, Sun Ra. The story of the Hawkins legacy continues to be told today, during tours of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Museum, by Ray Reach (Director of Student Jazz Programs) and Frank Adams, (Director of Education, Emeritus) at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Blue Sea
Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea

[Repeat: x2]
I ought to cross you off my list
But when you come a-knocking at my door

Fate seems to give my heart a twist
And I come running back for more
I should hate you, but I guess I love you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
The devil and the deep blue sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra's song Blue Sea talk about the complexity of a relationship that is coming to an end. The singer expresses conflicting emotions about their partner—on one hand, they don't want them in their life anymore, but on the other hand, they can't seem to let go of them. The use of the expression "devil and the deep blue sea" to describe this predicament emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and having to choose between two unpleasant options. Despite all the pain and hurt caused by the relationship, the singer finds it hard to move on and feels stuck between their desire to stay away from their partner and their unwillingness to let go.

In the second part of the song, the singer acknowledges that they should move on and forget their partner, but whenever their partner comes back into their life, they can't resist the temptation and end up getting hurt all over again. The lyrics convey a sense of helplessness, as though the singer is powerless to change the course of their life and is resigned to their fate.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I have mixed feelings because I don't want to be with you, but I also don't want to lose you completely.

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You've put me in a difficult situation, where neither choice is good.

I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
I've chosen to forgive you for what you've done, but I can't seem to forget it.

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Once again, you've put me in a difficult situation.

I ought to cross you off my list
I know I should move on from you and forget about you.

But when you come a-knocking at my door
But when you come back into my life and try to reconnect with me.

Fate seems to give my heart a twist
It feels like fate is playing a cruel trick on me and making me fall for you again.

And I come running back for more
And I can't resist the temptation to be with you again.

I should hate you, but I guess I love you
I know I should hate you for what you've done, but I can't help but still love you.

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Once again, you've put me in a difficult situation where I have to choose between bad options.

The devil and the deep blue sea
A difficult choice between two undesirable situations.

Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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