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.

Never No Lament
Johnny Hodges Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Missed the Saturday dance
Heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you
Don't get around much anymore

Though I'd visit the club
Got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you

Don't get around much anymore

Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
But, nevertheless, why stir up memories?

Been invited on dates
Might have gone, but what for?

Awfully different without you
Don't get around much anymore

Overall Meaning

The song "Never No Lament," also known as "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," was composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Bob Russell, and was first performed by Ellington's band in 1940. The song's melancholic lyrics express the singer's sadness at not being able to go out and enjoy himself because he misses his lover. The verses speak of missing an event, being invited on dates but not going, and even attempting to visit a club but not being able to go in because he would have been asked about his lover. The chorus "Don't get around much anymore" reflects the singer's overall sense of loneliness and isolation since he's no longer able to enjoy the things he once did without his lover.

The song has been interpreted in many different ways, but it is generally considered a classic example of the Great American Songbook, which is a collection of songs from the early to mid-20th century that have become part of the cultural fabric of the United States. The lyrics are often seen as a reflection of the isolation and loneliness that many people feel when they lose a loved one, and the song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Tony Bennett.

Line by Line Meaning

Missed the Saturday dance
I was unable to attend the dance on Saturday

Heard they crowded the floor
I heard that the dance was a success and many people attended

Couldn't bear it without you
I couldn't imagine attending the dance without you

Don't get around much anymore
I don't really go out as much as I used to

Though I'd visit the club
Even though I had intentions to go to the club

Got as far as the door
I only made it to the entrance of the club

They'd have asked me about you
I knew that people would inquire about your absence if I went inside

Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
My mind is less troubled now that I'm not going out as much

But, nevertheless, why stir up memories?
But there's really no point in bringing back old memories, is there?

Been invited on dates
I have received invitations to go out

Might have gone, but what for?
But what would be the reason for me to go out and date someone else?