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.
Lullaby Of Birdland
Jay McShann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always hear when you sigh
Never in my wordland
Could there be ways to reveal
In a phrase how I feel
Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Bill and coo when they love?
Music we make with our lips when we kiss
And there's a weepy old willow
He really knows how to cry
That's how I'd cry in my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye
Lullaby of Birdland whisper low
Kiss me sweet and we'll go
Flyin' high in Birdland
High in the sky up above
All because we're in love
The song Lullaby of Birdland by Jay McShann is a sweet and playful ode to love and music. The lyrics describe the feeling of being in love and the magic that music can create between two people. The title references the famous jazz club in New York City, Birdland, which was named after the jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker. The refrain of "Lullaby of Birdland" represents the soothing and comforting feeling of being with someone you love and being wrapped up in the music they create together.
The lyrics compare the magic of music to the love between two turtle doves who coo and bill. The idea is that when you are in love, the music that you create together is just as sweet and enchanting as the sound of turtle doves expressing their love for one another. The lyrics also mention a "weepy old willow" who knows how to cry, representing the sadness that would come with saying goodbye to your beloved. The song ends with a call to fly high in Birdland, representing the feeling of being free and weightless while in love.
Overall, the lyrics to Lullaby of Birdland are a poetic and romantic expression of the power of love and music.
Line by Line Meaning
Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I
Jay McShann is referring to the sweet lullaby-like music that he associates with Birdland jazz club when he hears it.
Always hear when you sigh
Whenever he hears his lover sigh, McShann equates it to the beautiful music from Birdland jazz club.
Never in my wordland
McShann means that he has never heard anything like the Lullaby of Birdland in his own wordland; he associates it with Birdland jazz club only.
Could there be ways to reveal
McShann emphasizes how difficult it is to express his emotions properly, even with language and phrases.
In a phrase how I feel
Again, McShann struggles to communicate his true feelings through language.
Have you ever heard two turtle doves
McShann is comparing himself and his lover to two birds, using the metaphor of turtle doves.
Bill and coo when they love?
He is suggesting that their love is pure and beautiful, just like how turtle doves 'coo' when they are in love.
That's the kind of magic
The 'magic' that McShann is referring to is the beauty of their love for each other.
Music we make with our lips when we kiss
Their kisses, in McShann's eyes, are as beautiful as the lullaby he hears at Birdland jazz club.
And there's a weepy old willow
McShann suggests that trees like the weeping willow romanticize melodramatic emotions, such as sadness and heartbreak, which he might feel if his lover leaves him.
He really knows how to cry
The weeping willow represents McShann's sadness if he's left alone without his lover.
That's how I'd cry in my pillow
McShann inspires the image of himself crying alone in his room, just like the willow tree is constantly crying.
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye
The 'if statement' represents McShann's fear of his lover leaving him.
Lullaby of Birdland whisper low
The term 'whisper low' represents McShann's love and emotional connection with Birdland jazz club.
Kiss me sweet and we'll go
McShann wants his lover to kiss him sweetly so that they might be able to experience the sweet, romantic high together, as Birdland jazz club inspired.
Flyin' high in Birdland
McShann is expressing his joy and happy feelings when he's at Birdland jazz club, as it takes him to a higher level of emotional experiences.
High in the sky up above
This implies that the emotions he feels are liberating and transcendent, taking him 'up above'.
All because we're in love
The reason for McShann's emotions and joy is his love for his lover.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: George Shearing, George David Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind