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.
St Louis Blues
Johnny Hodges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to see that evening sun go down,
'Cause my lovin' baby done left this town.
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
I'm gonna pack my trunk and make my getaway.
She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
And if it wasn't for powder and her store-bought hair,
Oh, that man of mine wouldn't go nowhere.
I got those St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be,
Oh, my man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
I love my man like a schoolboy loves his pie,
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his rocker and rye
I'll love my man until the day I die, Lord, Lord.
I got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be, Lord, Lord!
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
I got those St. Louis blues, I got the blues, I got the blues, I got the blues,
My man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me, Lord, Lord!
The lyrics of Johnny Hodges's song St. Louis Blues are a lament from a woman whose lover has abandoned her for a woman in St. Louis. The first two lines repeat the singer's feelings towards the sun setting, which signify the end of the day and the departure of her lover. The third line states that her lover has left her and she is heartbroken by this fact.
The second stanza continues with the same sentiment, where the singer says that if she feels the same way tomorrow, she will leave town. In the third stanza, the singer talks about the St. Louis woman who has all the material possessions that the singer does not have. The St. Louis woman uses these possessions to manipulate the singer's lover and get him to stay with her.
The fourth stanza is a repetition of the first, emphasizing the singer's blues, which are as blue as they can be because her lover has left her. The fifth stanza talks about the lover's heart being as hard as a rock cast in the sea, which is why he has left so far away. The final stanza talks about the singer's love for her man, which is unwavering even though he has left her.
Overall, the lyrics depict the desperation of a woman who has lost her lover to someone who can provide him with material possessions. She is deeply hurt and loves him despite his absence.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down,
It saddens me to see the sun set in the evening,
'Cause my lovin' baby done left this town.
because my beloved partner has departed from this place.
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
If my emotions tomorrow are the same as they are now,
I'm gonna pack my trunk and make my getaway.
I'm going to leave this place and start anew.
Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings,
That woman in St. Louis, adorned with her jewelry,
She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
Controls my partner and manipulates him.
And if it wasn't for powder and her store-bought hair,
If it were not for her cosmetics and faux beauty,
Oh, that man of mine wouldn't go nowhere.
Then, my partner would have never left.
I got those St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be,
I am feeling the melancholy Blues of St. Louis.
Oh, my man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
My partner is incredibly cold and detached, like a rock in the sea.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled so far away from me.
I love my man like a schoolboy loves his pie,
I love my partner with the passion and excitement of a schoolboy eating a pie.
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his rocker and rye
Like a Kentucky Colonel reveres his whiskey and rocking chair.
I'll love my man until the day I die, Lord, Lord.
I will love my partner until the end of my life, oh Lord.
I got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be, Lord, Lord!
I'm still feeling the St. Louis Blues, extremely melancholic, oh Lord,
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
My partner's heart is hard and unchanging, unmovable like a stone in the ocean.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me, Lord, Lord!
Else, my partner would have stayed with me, oh Lord.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Strayhorn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dalibor Simon
Duke Ellington – piano
Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
Harry "Sweets" Edison – trumpet
Les Spann – guitar
Al Hall – bass (tracks 1 and 4)
Sam Jones – bass (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Jo Jones – drums
Daniel Rivera
The one and only! Johnny Hodges on Alto Sax, with one of the greatest at the Piano! Duke Ellington is amazing
Phil Pryor
Swinging sweetly, with lovely tone, time, taste, it is just a wonder, and we miss it.
Angela Bryant
Love it Johnny beautiful!!!.
Валентина Асабина
Высший класс,бесподобные и несравненные !!!
Kristian Vaumoron
Johnny Hodges His tone is so elegant! He just playes...
Okmusix
Hello,
stay in touch, we constantly insert new videos.
Thanks.
soundfountain
Legendary performances I can always listen to. But you have the left and right channels reversed in the recording you uploaded. Cheers.
BB123
This is with Duke Ellington from their album Back To Back
Giovanni Villani
Il piu'grande