Hodges was apparently aware of this effect, leaving the Ellington orchestra in the 1950's, to be replaced by the stellar alto man, Willie Smith, formerly the lead alto star of the Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra. This situation somehow benefitted neither Ellington or Hodges, with the Ellington orchestra losing a certain luster despite Mr. Smith's excellence, and with major stardom just beyond Mr. Hodges' reach.
Luckily for the listener the recordings Mr. Hodges left behind as a leader, while arguably eluding stardom for the artist at the time, are nonpareil examples of relaxed swing, subtle inflection and perfect phrasing, peerless tone and seemingly effortless technique. More luck for the listener, Mr. Hodges later rejoined the Ellington fold, returning a signature sound to the orchestra's unique palette for many years after.
It has been reported that the Ellington orchestra worked nearly 365 days a year. When asked about this grueling schedule Mr. Ellington said something to the effect that he would settle for nothing less than the finest artists for his orchestra. What with the necessarily high salaries accorded an orchestra of virtuosos, the band had to work often in order to survive. Certainly no one in the Ellington orchestra more exemplified Mr. Ellington's highest standards than Johhny Hodges.
Basin Street Blues
Johnny Hodges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
The lyrics of Johnny Hodges's song Basin Street Blues depict a journey down the Mississippi River from Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana, where joy and celebration await. The opening lines clearly invite the listener to join the journey, promising a trip to the "land of dreams". As the lyrics progress, the excitement and anticipation build, with the hope of meeting old friends and "proud and elite folks" on Basin Street, which is described as "Heaven on earth." The lyrics convey a sense of belonging and welcome, which is particularly relevant as the song was released in 1938, a time when racial segregation was still entrenched in some parts of the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Do you want to join me?
To the Mississippi
We will travel to the Mississippi River
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We will board a boat to travel to a place where our dreams are possible
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
We will sail along the river to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
A musical group will greet us upon arrival
Old friends there to greet us
We will meet with familiar people upon our arrival
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
The place where socially distinguished people come to gather
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Basin Street is regarded as a paradise on earth
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the name of the street
Where the best folks always meet
The street where one can find the most admirable people
In New Orleans, land of dreams
The name of the place is New Orleans which is famed as an ideal location for achieving one's aspirations
You'll never know how nice it seems,
You won't understand how wonderful it is to be there
Or just how much it really means
You won't comprehend how much it signifies to be there
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Happy to be there, indeed
Where welcome's free and dear to me
A warm welcome greets me, and it is precious to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
It is the place where I can abandon my sadness and despair
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street is repeated to emphasize its significance
Is the street, mama
Basin Street is the name of the street, and the lyricist addresses his mother affectionately
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans is the name of the location, regarded as a perfect place to fulfil dreams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind