McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
Ace In The Hole
Jay McShann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who think they're mighty wise,
Just because they know a thing or two.
You see them every day
Walkin' up and down Broadway,
Telling of the wonders they can do.
There's con men and there's boosters,
Card sharks and crap-shooters.
They wear fancy ties and laces,
But where do they get their aces?
They all have got an ace down in the hole!
Some of them write to the old folks for coin,
And that is their ace in the hole,
And others have friends on the old Tenderloin;
That's their old ace in the hole.
They'll tell you of trips that they're going to take
From Florida to the North Pole.
The fact is, their name would be mud,
Like a chump playing stud,
If they lost that old ace down in the hole!
The lyrics to "Ace In The Hole" by Jay McShann describe the city environment of confidence tricksters and opportunists who believe they have a trick up their sleeve. The use of a game of cards, and the idea of having an ace up one's sleeve, is used as a metaphor to describe their strategies. McShann describes the con men, the boosters, and the card sharks who roam Broadway, wearing fancy clothes but scrounge, cheat or trick people out of their money.
The song also depicts their deceptive behavior in appearing trustworthy, as they use their hidden, secret "aces" to gain the advantage, whether it be connections on the street, or handouts from other people. However, as the lyrics suggest, if their false charm and lies are exposed, they'll be left with nothing, as their reputation becomes like mud. McShann's song, therefore, is a warning to those who believe they can always rely on having one more trick or secret method to deceive others.
Line by Line Meaning
This town is full of guys
The town is teeming with men
Who think they're mighty wise,
They believe themselves to be knowledgeable
Just because they know a thing or two.
Simply because they have some knowledge
You see them every day
One encounters them daily
Walkin' up and down Broadway,
Striding around Broadway street
Telling of the wonders they can do.
Boasting of their abilities
There's con men and there's boosters,
There are swindlers and there are promoters
Card sharks and crap-shooters.
Tactical gamblers and dice players
They congregate around the Metropole.
They assemble around the Metropole
They wear fancy ties and laces,
They adorn themselves with elegant neckwear
But where do they get their aces?
However, where do they obtain their best assets?
They all have got an ace down in the hole!
They have a trick up their sleeves
Some of them write to the old folks for coin,
A few of them appeal to the elderly for cash
And that is their ace in the hole,
That is their ultimate weapon
And others have friends on the old Tenderloin;
While some hold influence over the city's red-light district
That's their old ace in the hole.
Which is their long-established strategy
They'll tell you of trips that they're going to take
They'll speak of upcoming excursions
From Florida to the North Pole.
From the Sunshine State to the Arctic
The fact is, their name would be mud,
However, they would be disgraced
Like a chump playing stud,
Like an amateur playing poker
If they lost that old ace down in the hole!
In the event of losing their ultimate weapon
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ELMER SCHOEBEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind