Hugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge … Read Full Bio ↴Hugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, he found fame playing various roles in the classic British comedy TV series "Blackadder." He is perhaps more famous for the legendary TV sketch show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" where he performed with his Cambridge University chum, Stephen Fry. Since then he has appeared in various films (Maybe Baby, Girl from Rio, Flight of the Phoenix, Stuart Little) and television shows, and has done some theatre work in London's West End. Mr. Laurie was rumored to be a top contender for the role of "Doctor Who," (prior to David Tennant getting the part), however he was cast as Dr. Gregory House in the hit FOX medical drama "House, MD". Songfacts reports that Laurie is also an enthusiastic and keen musician, playing the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. He has displayed his musical talents on several episodes of House, as well as on previous shows he starred in, such as A Bit Of Fry & Laurie. In 2010 Laurie played piano as a special guest on Meatloaf 's track If I Can't Have You.
After signing a contract with Warner Bros, Laurie released a blues album Let Them Talk , which was released initially in France on April 18, 2011 and later in the UK on May 9th.

He has written one novel, "The Gun Seller," and another one, "The Paper Soldier," is tentatively scheduled for September 2009. Mr. Laurie has some musical talent, notably the piano and mouth trumpet (he can make convincing trumpet sounds using just his mouth). He played '20s numbers on the piano in the TV series "Jeeves and Wooster" (again with Stephen Fry) in addition to some original comic songs in "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie." He is currently a member of "Band from TV" with several other TV personalities. He is married with children, although he has become somewhat of an absentee father due to his work on American television while his family stays in London.

Buddy Bolden's Blues
Hugh Laurie Lyrics

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Thought I heard, Buddy Bolden say
The nasty and dirty, take it away
You're terrible and awful, take it away
I thought I heard him say

Thought I heard, Buddy Bolden shout
Open up that window, and let that bad air out
Open up that window, and let that stinky air out

Thought I heard Buddy Bolden say

Thought I heard judge Fogerty say
Give him 30 days in the market
Take him away
Give him a broom to sweep with
Take him away
Thought I heard him say

Thought I heard Franky Dirson say
Gimme that money, girl,
or I'm gonna, I'm gonna take it away

Gimme that money you owe me, or I'll take it away
Thought I heard Franky Dirson say

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hugh Laurie's song Buddy Bolden's Blues are set in New Orleans in the early 1900s and depict a society plagued by corruption, poverty, and racism. The song starts with the singer hearing legendary jazz musician Buddy Bolden utter the words "take it away" in reference to something nasty and dirty. The repeated line "I thought I heard him say" leaves a sense of doubt as to whether Bolden really made that statement, but the overall theme of the song suggests that there are many things, both tangible and intangible, that need to be taken away from this society.

The next verse features Bolden shouting for someone to open up the window to let the "bad air out". This could either be a literal request to get rid of some bad smell, or a metaphorical one calling for change and fresh air to come into a society that is plagued with problems. The third verse introduces judge Fogerty, who is seen as a corrupt figure that doles out unjust punishments. The imagery of giving someone a broom to sweep with makes it clear that the punishment is meaningless and only serves to punish the poor and disadvantaged further. The final verse features gang leader Franky Dirson demanding money from someone under threat of violence, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and fear. The overall theme of the song seems to be that there are many things that need to be taken away in order to bring about real change and justice in society.

Line by Line Meaning

Thought I heard, Buddy Bolden say
Buddy Bolden might have said

The nasty and dirty, take it away
Get rid of all the unpleasant things

You're terrible and awful, take it away
Remove all the terrible and awful things

I thought I heard him say
Maybe he said it, maybe not

Thought I heard, Buddy Bolden shout
Buddy Bolden may have yelled

Open up that window, and let that bad air out
Allow the unpleasant air to escape by opening up the window

Open up that window, and let that stinky air out
Let the malodorous air escape through the window

Thought I heard Buddy Bolden say
Maybe Buddy Bolden said it

Thought I heard judge Fogerty say
Judge Fogerty might have said

Give him 30 days in the market
Punish him by sending him to the market for 30 days

Take him away
Remove him from where he is now