The paths of Johnny Hodges (John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges, nicknames: "Rab… Read Full Bio ↴The paths of Johnny Hodges (John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges, nicknames: "Rabbit", "Jeep". b. July 25, 1907, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, d. May 11, 1970) and Duke Ellington are eternally intertwined. While Hodges is now universally acknowledged as one of the seminal alto saxophonists in jazz he was, at times, overlooked as an artist in his own right; somehow hidden in the penumbra of The Duke Ellington Orchestra, for which Mr. Hodges was the lead alto player for many decades (doubling on soprano saxophone in the '30's and '40's as well).

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.

I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart / Don
Johnny Hodges Lyrics

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I let a song go out of my heart
It was the sweetest melody
I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song

Since you and I have drifted apart
Life doesn't mean a thing to me
Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong

Am I too late to make amends?
You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends

I let a song go out of my heart
Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day

I let a song go out of my heart

Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart" express the heart-wrenching longing and regret of a lover who has lost their beloved. The opening lines are particularly poignant - the singer has lost not just their lover, but the music that bound them together, the "sweetest melody" that was their love song. The lyrics suggest that the singer knows that they are responsible for the end of the relationship - "I know I was wrong" - but the pain of loss is still acute.

The middle verses of the song express the desperation and hopelessness that the singer feels without their lover. Life no longer has any meaning for them, and they are begging for their love - and their song - to return. The line "Am I too late to make amends?" is especially introspective, suggesting that the singer realizes that their chance for reconciliation may have passed. The lyrics "You know that we were meant to be more than just friends" further reinforce this sense of regret and loss.

Overall, "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart" is a powerful and moving portrayal of a person who has lost everything they hold dear. The metaphor of the lost song captures the depth of emotion and the pain of loss, while the haunting melody of the music adds to the mood of sadness and longing that pervades the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I let a song go out of my heart
I let my love for you fade away

It was the sweetest melody
Our relationship was the best thing in my life

I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song
Losing you was like losing everything good in my life

Since you and I have drifted apart
Our relationship has fallen apart

Life doesn't mean a thing to me
My life is empty without you

Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong
I'm sorry for whatever I did to push you away, please come back to me

Am I too late to make amends?
Is it too late for us to fix things?

You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends
We had something special and meaningful between us

Believe me, darlin', when I say
Trust me, I mean what I'm saying

I won't know sweet music until you return some day
I won't feel complete or happy until we're together again

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS, HENRY NEMO, JOHN REDMOND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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