Stacy was born Jesse Alexandria Stacy in Bird's Point, Missouri, a small village across the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois. He grew up along the Mississippi river and initially played on riverboats,
In the 1920s he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he made a name for himself playing with Paul Mares. Later he worked with Benny Goodman and performed with him at Carnegie Hall in 1938. The Carnegie Hall performance has gained attention due to an unplanned, yet widely praised, solo by Jess during "Sing Sing Sing". His solo performance will live forever as a new generation marvels at the compact discs of that concert.
Stacy also spent time with the bands of Bob Crosby, Horace Heidt, and Tommy Dorsey and recorded with Eddie Condon. He put together a big band of his own and recorded with Lee Wiley to whom he was married for a time. By the late 1940s he moved to California, his career declined to mostly club work and he eventually retired from public playing. For a time, he worked as a salesman for Max Factor cosmetics. That is until the 1950 recording of the Carnegie Hall concert came out and there was renewed interest in the man’s playing, and a realisation that he was a genius. He returned to playing again in 1974 and produced Stacy Still Swings in 1977. The years after that included compilations and some club work. He died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles, California.
Since his death in 1995 he has gained new attention and honors. In 1996 he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame and in 1998 a biography of him titled Jess Stacy: the Quiet Man of Jazz. a Biography and Discography ISBN 0-9638890-4-4 by Derek Coller came out.
Careless
Jess Stacy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's why we answered loves call
Now that you've got what you wanted
You don't seem to want it at all
Careless
Now that you've got me loving you
You're careless
You break up appointments and think you are smart
If you're not careful you'll break my heart
Careless
Now that my bridges all are burned
You're careless
Careless in things where I'm concerned
Are you just careless, as you seem to be
Or do you just care less for me?
In Jess Stacy and his Trio's song "Careless", the lyrics describe a lover who seems to have lost interest in their relationship after getting what they wanted, which is love. The singer questions if their partner is simply careless, as they appear to be, or if they really just care less for them. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes this behavior, using the word "careless" to show how flippantly their partner is treating their love.
The song's lyrics are a poignant commentary on the ups and downs of love relationships. The initial excitement and interest of a new relationship can quickly dissipate once one partner gets what they want, leaving the other partner feeling hurt and abandoned. The singer's use of simple yet powerful words like "careless" and "burned" serve to amplify the emotions in the song and give it an even greater impact.
The song "Careless" was first recorded in 1940 by the Jess Stacy Trio, with vocals by Lee Wiley. Over the years, this song has been covered by numerous artists, including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. The song's popularity lies in its relatability and the simplicity of the lyrics that allow for different interpretations and expressions of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love was the thing that you wanted
You desired love above everything else
That's why we answered loves call
We were drawn to you because of your desire for love
Now that you've got what you wanted
You have found love and achieved your goal
You don't seem to want it at all
However, you don't appear to value it now
Careless
You are acting recklessly and not considering the consequences
Now that you've got me loving you
I have fallen in love with you
You're careless
You are not taking care of my emotions
Careless in everything you do
Your lack of concern extends to all aspects of your life
You break up appointments and think you are smart
You cancel plans to manipulate the situation
If you're not careful you'll break my heart
Your actions could lead to emotional hurt for me
Now that my bridges all are burned
I have lost other opportunities because of my investment in you
You're careless
You are still not attentive to my feelings
Careless in things where I'm concerned
You continue to act recklessly in regards to my emotions
Are you just careless, as you seem to be
I and others are curious if this is your natural state
Or do you just care less for me?
Or have you specifically chosen to ignore your feelings for me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEW QUADLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrJimmienoone
It would be fine to know who played guitar (by the way, I don't hear a drummer or bass man - to me it sounds like a duo). Guitar could be Allan Reuss, judging by the style.