Ball began his career in the 1950s as sideman in bands before forming his own Trad jazz band in 1958. Ball and his band enjoyed the longest unbroken success for bands of their generation, with their hits like "Samantha" and "Midnight in Moscow" remaining popular in dixieland and trumpet circles. Ball's status rivals contemporaries Acker Bilk and Chris Barber. In March of 1962 Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen reached #2 on the US Billboard charts, with "Midnight in Moscow".
Ball continued to tour in the 2000s and charted no fewer than 14 Top 30 hit singles in the UK alone, the most by any jazz artist.
The line-up changed greatly over the years, but the following personnel were in situ when the musical ensemble was at its commercial peak:
Kenny Ball (trumpet)
John Bennett (trombone), still in the line-up at the time of Ball's death
Dave Jones (clarinet)
Ron Weatherburn (piano)
Paddy Lightfoot (banjo)
Ron Bowden (drums)
Vic Pitt (bass, bass guitar)
Basin St Blues
Kenny Ball Lyrics
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I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
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 love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man till the day I die
Kenny Baker's song "St. Louis Blues" is a classic blues song that is about heartache and loss. The song is about the singer's love and how he hates to see the evening sun go down because his "baby" has left the town. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of sadness and regret that his love has gone.
The lyrics suggest that the singer's feelings are so strong that he is considering leaving town. He feels that his heartache is so great that he cannot bear to stay in a place where his love is no longer present. The St. Louis woman with her diamond ring is also mentioned, suggesting that this woman has played a role in the singer's loss. It is suggested that the man the singer loves would not have gone anywhere if it were not for the St. Louis woman.
The lyrics of this song are raw and emotional. The singer's pain is palpable, and it is easy to understand the depth of his feelings. The song has been covered by many artists and is considered a classic in the blues genre. The song's popularity has endured because of its universal theme of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down
I'm saddened by the setting sun because my lover has left this town
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If tomorrow feels the same as today, I'll leave town and start anew
St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
This woman from St. Louis uses her wealth to control and manipulate the man I love
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
If it wasn't for this woman, my man wouldn't be under her control
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
Without this woman, the man I love wouldn't have left me and gone far away
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
I'm feeling the blues deeply because of the situation with my lover and his new woman
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
My man seems to be unfeeling and unresponsive to my love
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
If he really loved me, he wouldn't have left me and gone so far away
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
I love my man deeply and passionately, like a young boy loves his favorite food
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
My love for him is intense, just like the love a Kentucky colonel has for his favorite drink
I love my man till the day I die
My love for this man will endure until the end of my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC.
Written by: William Christopher Handy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind