During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Miller managed to earn a living working as a freelance trombonist in several bands. His first band was formed in 1937 but failed to distinguish itself and eventually broke up.
Following the break-up of his first band, Miller realized that he needed to develop a unique sound, and decided to make the clarinet play a melodic line with a tenor saxophone on the same note, while three other saxophones harmonized. With this sound combination, the Miller band that became the most popular was born in 1938. After a shaky start, it made his new band a nationwide hit.
In 1942, Miller joined the United States Army Air Forces where he continued his musical career with the Army Air Force Band.
On December 15, 1944, Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris, France, to play for the soldiers who had recently liberated Paris. His plane departed from RAF Twinwood Farm in Clapham, Bedfordshire and disappeared while flying over the English Channel. No trace of the aircrew, passengers or plane has ever been found. Miller's status is missing in action.
His music is still iconic of the time period in which he lived and continues to draw thousands of fans of all age groups.
Glenn Miller was a popular visitor to Bedford and its American Air force bases. He is still remembered to this day by the people of Bedford with a bronze bust displayed on the front of the towns Corn Exchange, and more recently, what remains of the Twinwoods Airfield being renovated as a Glenn Miller Museum and outdoor event site
2) Glenn Miller was a Jamaican reggae and soul artist of the 1960's.
Along with other legendary artists such as Bob Marley & the Wailers and Desmond Dekker he recorded for the Trojan record label.
The Boogie Wooglie Piggy
Glenn Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take it from me:
I just found somethin‘ to see
Oh, it‘s a pig, it does the Boogie, yes, Siree,
And he really gets to do it solidly
MOD:
You mean he really gets to do it solidly...
This little piggie went to market*
This little piggie stayed home
TB:
But this little piggie was a booglie wooglie piggie
And he boogie-woogied all the way home
MOD:
This little piggie had roast beef
This little piggie had none
TB:
But this little piggie was a booglie wooglie piggie
And he...
ALL:
...did the Lindy all the way home!
MOD:
Oink, oink!
TB:
Piggly wiggly piggie
MOD:
Oink, oink!
TB: Booglie wooglie woogie
MOD:
Oink, oink, oink, oink!
The booglie wooglie pigglie wiggly oink oink...
This little piggie dug two beats
This piggie thought the waltz was divine
TB:
But this little piggie was a hip little piggie
And he...
ALL:
...Boogie-woogied all of the time...!
(instrumental interlude)
MOD:
This little piggie dug two beats
PK:
This piggie thought the waltz divine
TB:
But this little piggie was a hip little piggie
And he boogie-woogied all of the time...
MOD:
This little piggie was a hip little piggie
And he boogie-woogied all of the time!
"The Boogie Wooglie Piggy" is a fun and uplifting song composed by Glenn Miller, which revolves around a pig that loves to dance the boogie-woogie. The lyrics start describing the pig as a great dancer that can really move and entertain, and then make references to the well-known children's nursery rhyme, "This Little Piggy." A notable aspect of this song is the use of various voices, including a male and a female voice, which alternate throughout the song's chorus.
The first verse sets the mood of the song, introducing the Piggy and his incredible dancing skills, while the second verse references "This Little Piggy" nursery rhyme, referring to the "roast beef" and "none" piggies. In the chorus, the two voices unite, and they both repeat the main idea of the song: "this little piggy was a booglie wooglie piggie, and he boogie-woogied all the way home." The song also features an instrumental interlude, where the music takes center stage. The lyrics continue with more references to the nursery rhyme, describing other piggies that like different types of music, but the booglie wooglie piggie is the coolest because he loves to boogie-woogie.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it from me:
I just found somethin' to see
Oh, it's a pig, it does the Boogie, yes, Siree,
And he really gets to do it solidly
Listen to what I have to say: I just discovered something remarkable! There's a dancing pig that does the boogie-woogie perfectly.
You mean he really gets to do it solidly...
Are you saying that he dances the boogie-woogie impressively well?
But this little piggie was a booglie wooglie piggie
And he boogie-woogied all the way home
This particular pig was a boogie-woogie piggy, and he danced the boogie-woogie all the way home.
This little piggie had roast beef
This little piggie had none
But this little piggie was a booglie wooglie piggie
And he...
Some piggies had roast beef to eat, while others had nothing. But this pig was a boogie-woogie piggy, so he...
...did the Lindy all the way home!
...danced the Lindy all the way back.
Oink, oink!
Squeal, squeal!
Piggly wiggly piggie
A wiggly little piggy.
Booglie wooglie woogie
A swinging, jazzy dance.
Oink, oink, oink, oink!
The booglie wooglie pigglie wiggly oink oink...
Squeal, squeal, squeal, squeal! The jazzy dancing pig squeals while he moves.
This little piggie dug two beats
This piggie thought the waltz was divine
One pig dug two beats, while another pig enjoyed the waltz. But this piggy was hip and always...
But this little piggie was a hip little piggie
And he...
However, this pig was cool and always...
...Boogie-woogied all of the time...!
...danced the boogie-woogie non-stop!
(instrumental interlude)
The instruments play for a while.
This little piggie was a hip little piggie
And he boogie-woogied all of the time!
This cool piggy always danced the boogie-woogie!
Contributed by Alexandra T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.