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.
Caravan
Johnny Hodges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
The lyrics of Johnny Hodges's song Caravan convey a sense of enchantment that is often associated with the Middle East. The lyrics describe a journey through the desert at night, with the stars and moon providing only dim light as they glide through the sand in a caravan. With his partner by his side, the singer reminisces on the memories that they will create during this journey. The lyrics also describe the thrill and excitement of being with his love, with the magical charm of the experience making his dream of love become a reality.
The song's use of the term "caravan" may also be interpreted metaphorically as the journey that one takes throughout life. With its mystic undertones and romantic triggers, the song offers its listeners a powerful sense of hope and wonder, making it a memorable piece of music for generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The sky is dark and the stars twinkle brightly.
The myst'ry of their fading light
It is mysterious how the light from the stars fades away.
That shines upon our caravan
The light from the stars shines down on our caravan.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
As we move slowly and cautiously, please rest your head on my shoulder.
Across the sand so I may keep
So that I may keep the memory of our journey across this desert.
The mem'ry of our caravan
I want to keep the memory of this experience we are sharing together.
This is so exciting
I am feeling extremely thrilled and exhilarated.
You are so inviting
I find you to be very appealing and attractive.
Resting in my arms
You are currently taking a break and relaxing in my embrace.
As I thrill to the magic charms
I am experiencing intense and exciting emotions due to your alluring qualities.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
I am thrilled to be near you under this endless blue sky.
My dream of love is coming true
I feel as though my deepest wish for love is finally being fulfilled.
Within our desert caravan
All of this is happening within the confines of our caravan, right here in the vast desert.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mário Inacio
O velho e bom jazz do Mr Duke
Polixenia Graf
Beautiful maestro Duke Ellington! Thank you !💖👏👏👏⚘
Ana Lobo
👍Musicaaa!!!
Ailton Melo
Muito bom mesmo valeu parabéns pela escolha 👏
Nancy Eckroad-Haney
Ah, Jeeps Blues, made famous by Duke's Jazz at Newport album. The sublime Johnny Hodges!