Henry (Hank) Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American hard bop … Read Full Bio ↴Henry (Hank) Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone that was neither as aggressive as John Coltrane nor as mellow as Stan Getz. His style was laid-back, subtle and melodic, especially in contrast with players like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, and it took many jazz connoisseurs until after his demise to fully appreciate his talent.

Mobley was born in Eastman, Georgia, but was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, near Newark. Early in his career, he worked with Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach. He took part in one of the landmark hard bop sessions, alongside Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Doug Watkins and trumpeter Kenny Dorham. The results of these sessions were released as Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers. They contrasted with the classical pretensions of cool jazz, with Mobley's rich lyricism being bluesier, alongside the funky approach of Horace Silver. When The Jazz Messengers split in 1956, Mobley continued on with pianist Horace Silver for a short time, although he did work again with Blakey some years later, when the drummer appeared on Mobley's albums in the early 60s.

During the 1960s, he worked chiefly as a leader, recording 25 albums for Blue Note Records, including Soul Station and Roll Call, between 1955 and 1970. He performed with many of the most important hard bop players, such as Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Clark, Wynton Kelly and Philly Joe Jones, and formed a particularly productive partnership with trumpeter Lee Morgan. Mobley is widely recognized as one of the great composers of originals in the hard-bop era, with interesting chord changes and room for soloists to spread out.

His 1961 album, Another Workout, while considered an instant classic, was inexplicably not released until 1985.

Mobley also spent a brief time in 1961 with Miles Davis, during the trumpeter's search for a replacement for John Coltrane. He is heard on the album Someday My Prince Will Come (alongside Coltrane, who returned for the recording of some tracks), and some live recordings (Miles Davis - In Person Friday And Saturday Nights At The Blackhawk, Complete and At Carnegie Hall). Though considered by some as not having the improvisational fire of Coltrane, Mobley was still a major voice on tenor saxophone, known for his melodic playing.

Mobley was forced to retire in the mid-1970s due to lung problems. He worked briefly with Duke Jordan before his death from pneumonia in 1986.

Easy to Love
Hank Mobley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear
That I adore you, dear
But grant me

Just the same

I'm not entirely to blame
For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above
So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every home fire burning for

We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together
That it does seem a shame
That you can't see

Your future with me
Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

Overall Meaning

Hank Mobley's song "Easy to Love" is a contemplative piece that delves into a quixotic relationship between an individual and their beloved. The singer acknowledges that it's a fruitless pursuit to hope that someone they're pining for will reciprocate their affections. The song is a melancholic reflection of the unrequited love, which is evident from lines such as "I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time in thinking such a thing could be that you could ever care for me." The lyrics express the emotional and mental turmoil that comes with loving someone who doesn't love you in the same way.

Despite acknowledging that their love might not be reciprocated, the singer can't help but idolize their beloved, as they harmonize, "So easy to idolize, all others above." The singer then contemplates the many ways their relationship with their beloved could be exceptional, but sadly, they cannot have those moments together. The song closes with the expression of the singer's desire for the beloved, "cause you'd be oh, so easy to love."

Line by Line Meaning

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
I am aware that thinking about you is impractical and not worthwhile.

In thinking such a thing could be
In believing that you could ever love me.

That you could ever care for me
That you could ever develop affection for me.

I'm sure you hate to hear
I am certain that my declaration of love is unwelcome.

That I adore you, dear
That I feel a deep and profound love for you.

But grant me
Please hear me out.

Just the same
Regardless,

I'm not entirely to blame
I am not the sole reason for my feelings of love.

For love
The cause of love.

You'd be so easy to love
You possess all the qualities that make it effortless to love.

So easy to idolize
You are the perfect image of desire.