Born James Oscar Smith on 8th December 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Smith was influenced by both gospel and blues. He first achieved prominence in the 1950s where his recordings became popular on jukeboxes before there were commonly used terms to describe his unique musical flavor. In the sixties and seventies he helped create the jazz style known as soul jazz.
Smith employed a unique technique to emulate a string bass player on the organ. Although he played walking bass lines on the pedals on ballads, for uptempo tunes, he would play the bass line on the lower manual and use the pedals for emphasis on the attack of certain notes. His solos were characterised by percussive chords mixed with very fast melodic improvisation with the right hand.
Smith was a prolific recording artist. He first recorded with the Blue Note label in 1956. His early albums with Blue Note sold very well, improving its financial viability and aiding the label's efforts to promote other artists. They include Home Cookin' , The Sermon!, Midnight Special, Prayer Meetin' , and Back at the Chicken Shack.
Smith signed to Verve Records label in 1963. Smith's albums with Verve include: The Cat, The Boss, Root Down, Peter & The Wolf, Any Number Can Win, The Incredible..., Bashin', Got My Mojo Workin', Christmas Cookin', and Organ Grinder Swing.
His influence has been felt across multiple generations and musical styles; nearly every subsequent jazz organist owes a large debt to Smith. The Beastie Boys (who sampled the bassline from Smith's "Root Down (and Get It)"—and saluted Smith in the lyrics—for their own hit "Root Down"), Medeski, Martin & Wood, and The Hayden-Eckert Ensemble are among the better known contemporary bands that pay tribute to Smith's sensibilities and sound. The Acid Jazz movement also reflects Smith's influences.
Smith died on 8th February 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
There are several other artists with this name: 1. an American jazz trumpeter, 2. an American jazz drummer, 3. a British guitarist for the band Foals, 4. blues guitarist Jimmy "Guitar" Smith.
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See Wikipedia for a disambiguation page for Jimmy Smith#Musicians.
The Boss
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
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Can't you hear me when I call?
Big Boss Man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
A-you just tall, that's all
Workin' around the clock
I wanna little drink of water
But you won't let me stop
Big Boss Man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
You just tall, that's all
You got me workin', Boss Man
One that I can't see
Work hard in the daytime
Rest easy in the night
Big Boss Man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
Oh no, you just tall, that's all
The song "The Boss" by Jimmy Smith narrates the story of a worker who is summoning his boss, urging him to listen to his plea. As per the lyrics, the boss is imposing his control over the workers, having them work around the clock in difficult circumstances. The worker requests a break to quench his thirst, but the boss denies his request, demonstrating a lack of empathy towards the workers. Despite being tall and in a position of power, the worker believes that his boss's lack of compassion negates his dominance. The lyrics ending underscores the worker's resolve in standing up against the boss's exploitative management.
The song paints a picture of a classic power struggle. Although the boss has a tall posture, his lack of attention to the needs of his workers strips him of his power. In essence, the worker refuses to play the role of a passive subjugate, calling out the boss for his actions. The song is a statement on the abuse of power and the consequences of such abuse. It reflects the notion that those in an elevated position should listen to those under them and work towards bettering their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Big Boss Man
The person being addressed is a boss, in charge of others
Can't you hear me when I call?
Asking the boss if they are attentive to the needs of their employee
Well, you ain't so big
The boss is not actually physically larger than the employee
A-you just tall, that's all
The boss might be tall, but they are not big in any other sense
You got me workin', Boss Man
The employee is under the boss's direction and is working hard
Workin' around the clock
The employee is working all the time
I wanna little drink of water
The employee wants a break or something to quench their thirst
But you won't let me stop
The boss is not permitting the employee to take a break or get a drink of water
One that I can't see
The task the boss has assigned the employee is unclear or difficult to achieve
Work hard in the daytime
The employee is working all day long
Rest easy in the night
The employee is able to relax and rest after a long day of hard work
Oh no, you just tall, that's all
The boss is not actually as powerful or intimidating as they seem
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dixon Luther, Al Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind