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.

The Breakdown
Hank Mobley Lyrics

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Each time I look at you
Is like the first time
Each time you're near me
The thrill is new
And there is nothing
That I wouldn't do for
The rare delight of the sight
Of you for

The more I see you,
The more I want you
Somehow this feeling
Just grows and grows
With every sigh
I become more mad about you
More lost without you and so it goes

Can you imagine how much I love you?
The more I see you as years go by
I know the only one for me can only be you
My arms won't free you, my heart won't try

I know the only one for me
Can only be you

My arms won't free you,
My heart won't try

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hank Mobley's song "The Breakdown" describe the intense love and affection the singer has for someone. The song begins with the singer expressing how each time they look at the person, it feels like the first time, and how being near them fills them with a new sense of excitement and joy. The singer also emphasizes that there's nothing they wouldn't do to see this person, to bask in the sight of them, to revel in the rare delight that only they can bring. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the intensity of the singer's feelings only grows. Every time they see the person, they want them more and more. Every time they breathe a sigh, they become even more enamored. And yet, despite this all-consuming love, the singer knows that they will never free the person from their embrace, and that their heart will never stop loving them.

"The Breakdown" is a beautiful testament to the power of love, and the lengths to which a person will go to hold onto the one they love. The lyrics are both poetic and poignant, capturing the intensity of the singer's emotions in a way that is both relatable and uplifting. Overall, the song is a wonderful example of the power of music to convey complex emotions and to bring people together in a shared experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Each time I look at you
Whenever I gaze upon your face

Is like the first time
It feels brand new, like the initial occasion

Each time you're near me
When you're in proximity to me

The thrill is new
I feel excitement and anticipation every time

And there is nothing
I am willing to do anything

That I wouldn't do for
There isn't a single act I wouldn't undertake

The rare delight of the sight
To experience the unique pleasure of seeing

Of you for
From the vision of you.

The more I see you,
The more often I observe you,

The more I want you
The greater my desire for you becomes

Somehow this feeling
This sentiment I possess