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.
Jump For Joy
Johnny Hodges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cotton lisle is out of style
Honey child
Jump for joy
Don't you grieve, little Eve
All the hounds I do believe
Have been killed
Jump for joy
Have you seen pastures groovy?
Green pastures was just a technicolor movie
When you stomp up to heaven and you meet old Saint Pete
Tell that boy
These lyrics explore the idea of changes that occur over time in connection to the era during which they were written. The first line "Fare thee well, land of cotton" reflects on the South as an agricultural region and its reliance on cotton production. The next line "Cotton lisle is out of style" refers to the end of the cotton market in America and how fashion has also diversified. The next two lines "Honey child/Jump for joy" suggest that despite these changes, people should still celebrate and enjoy life.
The next lines "Don't you grieve, little Eve/All the hounds I do believe/Have been killed/Ain't ya thrilled?" may be referencing the infamous Scottsboro Boys case, in which nine young African-American men were falsely accused of rape, with hounds being used to track them down. The lyrics may be saying that now that these unjust practices have ceased, people should be happy and jump for joy.
The next lines "Jump for joy/Have you seen pastures groovy?/Green pastures was just a technicolor movie" compare idyllic pasturelands to the artificial depiction of them in movies. The final lines "When you stomp up to heaven and you meet old Saint Pete/Tell that boy/Jump for joy" express a hope that even in the afterlife, there will still be reasons to jump for joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Fare thee well, land of cotton
Goodbye to the land where cotton was king
Cotton lisle is out of style
The era of cotton production has ended
Honey child
Addressing a younger person with affection
Jump for joy
Be happy, excited, and celebrate
Don't you grieve, little Eve
Don't be sad, young lady
All the hounds I do believe
I think all of the hunting dogs have been killed
Have been killed
They are no longer a threat
Ain't ya thrilled?
Aren't you excited?
Jump for joy
Celebrate and be happy
Have you seen pastures groovy?
Have you seen any beautiful fields?
Green pastures was just a technicolor movie
What we thought were beautiful fields were just a movie
When you stomp up to heaven and you meet old Saint Pete
When you get to heaven and meet St. Peter
Tell that boy
Tell him something
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, SID KULLER, PAUL WEBSTER, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind