Born in Waveland, Mississippi, he moved to New Orleans in his youth, and studied clarinet with Lorenzo Tio. He played with the bands of Frankie Duson, Kid Ory, and King Oliver. Dodds went to Chicago, played with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, with which he first recorded in 1923. After break up of Oliver's band in 1924, Dodds replaced Alcide Nunez as the house clarinetist and bandleader of Kelly's Stables. He recorded with numerous small groups in Chicago, most notably Louis Armstrong's Hot 5 and Hot 7, and Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers.
Dodds was noted for his professionalism and virtuosity as a musician, and his heartfelt heavily blues laden style. He was an important influence on later clarinetists, notably Benny Goodman.
Dodds did not record for most of the 1930s, affected by ill health. He died in Chicago in 1940.
After You've Gone
Johnny Dodds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
The lyrics to Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers's song "After You've Gone" describe the pain and heartbreak that come with a breakup. The singer implores their partner not to leave, begging them not to break their heart. The singer has loved their partner for many years, and they cannot believe that their partner would leave them. They warn their partner that they will feel sad and miss the singer deeply once they are gone. The song has a somber, mournful tone, conveying the singer's deep sense of loss and sadness.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and heartbreak that many people can relate to. The singer is pleading with their partner not to leave, and the pain of their impending loss is palpable. The repetition of the line "after you've gone" underscores the finality of the breakup and the singer's sense of loss. The song is a reminder of the fragility of relationships and the pain that comes with their end.
Line by Line Meaning
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Listen to me, my beloved, as I express my feelings.
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you inform me that you're leaving?
Don't say that we must part,
Please don't say that we have to separate.
Don't break your baby's heart
Don't hurt me, the one who loves you dearly.
You know I've loved you for these many years,
You're aware that I've cherished you for so long.
Loved you night and day,
My love for you has been constant and unwavering.
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
Oh, my dear, don't you notice my tears?
Listen while I say
Hear me out, please.
After you've gone and left me cryin',
Once you've departed and left me weeping,
After you've gone there's no denyin',
There's no doubt that after you've left,
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll encounter misery and sorrow
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You'll long for the closest friend you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll be a moment, don't overlook it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll repent what you've done
Someday, when you grow lonely
One day, when you feel lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Your heart will shatter like mine did, and you'll only desire me
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You'll be in distress and sadness
You're gonna feel bad
You'll feel terrible
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
You'll miss and yearn,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
And you'll miss the closest friend you've ever had.
But baby, think what you're doin'
My dear, consider your actions
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I'll distress and taunt you
It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will lead you to destruction
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
Once you've left, once you've abandoned me.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Novotny Ingersol
After an hour of this I'm starting to hear a gut-bucket burlesque growl on the bone and a snare break in Lionel on the vibes. What you think? Did Eddie Condon ever record this tune? Sounds like his alley.
Novotny Ingersol
Fantastic remastering job of an acoustic laid down in shellacked groves in 1927! Johnny Dobbs surfing in a sea of genius. Baby Dobbs coming in with a drum riff in the middle of John Thomas's tram-bone solo worth the price of admission. Bud Scott banjo laying down the essential foundation Charlie Christian would have approved. Little bit of everything. Some far ahead of its time. Little NO funeral procession. Little Scatt. Be Bop. Kitchen Sink. Rare treasure.
Mando
makes me so nostalgic
León Blum
THANKS Mr.''HEINZ BECKER FOR POSTING THIS GREAT MUSICIANS ''JOHNNY DODDS''-AFTER YOU'VE GONE
bob boscarato
BLUM!
bob boscarato
Leon Bluum siempre podes depender en Heinz Becker para presentar buena musica de jazz incluyendo Oscar Aleman!
bob boscarato
Leon Blum; ciertamente una belleza!
Novotny Ingersol
And Al Jolson did a voice-over in the scarecrow scene in Dennis Potter's Singing Detective. You miss the bestest pal--