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.

The Sheik of Araby
Johnny Hodges Lyrics

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"I'm the Sheik of Araby,
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me;

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Hodges's song, The Sheik of Araby, speak of the singer identifying himself as the Sheik of Araby, claiming that the love interest of the song belongs to him. The verse speaks in somewhat boastful tones about how he will steal into the lover's tent at night and how their love will be guided by the stars. The singer then offers for the love interest to rule the land with him, emphasizing his power and status as the Sheikh of Araby.

The lyrics tell of a tale of power and control and how the singer is in complete charge of the situation. He is not asking for love, but rather demanding it, and the lyrics speak of a desire for complete control over the love interest. The tone of the song is somewhat romantic, but with an underlying sense of danger and control.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm the Sheik of Araby
I am the leader of the kingdom of Araby

Your love belongs to me.
You are devoted to me and only me.

At night when you're asleep
Under the cover of darkness, I will approach you

Into your tent I'll creep.
I will enter your tent without you noticing

The stars that shine above,
The stars in the sky will guide our path

Will light our way to love.
Our love will be illuminated by the stars

You'll rule this land with me;
You will share the leadership of this kingdom with me

Lyrics © HARRY B. SMITH COPYRIGHTS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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