Dorham was one of the most active bebop trumpeters. He played in the big bands of Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and Mercer Ellington and the quintet of Charlie Parker. He was a charter member of the original cooperative Jazz Messengers. He also recorded as a sideman with Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, and he replaced Clifford Brown in the Max Roach Quintet after Brown's death in 1956. In addition to sideman work, he led his own groups, including the Jazz Prophets (formed shortly after Art Blakey took over the Jazz Messengers name). The Jazz Prophets can be heard on the 1956 Blue Note live album Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia.
Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention from the jazz establishment that many of his peers did. For this reason, his name has become (in the words of writer Gary Giddins) "virtually synonymous with 'underrated.'"
During his final years Dorham suffered from kidney disease, of which he died.
Autumn In New York
Kenny Dorham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'round midnight, midnight.
I do pretty well, till after sundown,
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
But it really gets bad,
'round midnight.
Memories always start 'round midnight
When my heart is still with you,
And ol' midnight knows it, too.
When a quarrel we had needs mending,
Does it mean that our love is ending.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
You're out of my heart,
And I'm out of my mind.
Let our hearts take wings'
'round midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing,
for your returning.
Till our love is safe and sound.
And old midnight comes around.
Feelin' sad,
really gets bad
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The song Autumn in New York by Kenny Dorham is a romantic and melancholic ballad describing the complexities of love and heartbreak. The opening verse sets the stage for the mood of the song, with the lyrics “It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight. I do pretty well, till after sundown, Suppertime I'm feelin' sad.” Here, the singer suggests that while he is able to keep himself together during the day, as night sets in, he begins to feel the weight of his emotions. The next verse indicates that his sadness is triggered by memories, which tend to start "round midnight". The line "Haven't got the heart to stand those memories" implies that the memories are painful, likely associated with a lost love - "When my heart is still with you, And ol' midnight knows it, too."
The chorus suggests that the singer is still in love with the person who left him- “When a quarrel we had needs mending, Does it mean that our love is ending. Darlin' I need you, lately I find You're out of my heart, And I'm out of my mind.” The verse highlights a sense of despair and longing, with the singer indicating that he is out of his mind without the person he loves. The song's final verse offers a glimmer of hope, with the lyrics "Let our hearts take wings' 'round midnight, midnight Let the angels sing, for your returning. Till our love is safe and sound. And old midnight comes around." Here, the singer hopes for a reconciliation, and imagines that they will reunite at midnight when they will be surrounded by the safety and comfort of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight.
The haunting memories of a lost love begin to surface every night starting at midnight.
I do pretty well, till after sundown,
The singer manages to keep himself busy during the day in order to keep his mind off the lost love.
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
As the day progresses and it comes closer to nighttime, the singer starts feeling more and more sad and lonely.
But it really gets bad, 'round midnight.
As soon as midnight approaches, the artist's memories and feelings become too overwhelming to ignore, making him feel even worse than before.
Memories always start 'round midnight
The artist's mind is wired to trigger memories of his lost love at the stroke of midnight every night.
Haven't got the heart to stand those memories,
The memories that surface during midnight are so painful that the singer can't bear to deal with them emotionally.
When my heart is still with you,
The singer's love and affection still lies with the lost love.
And ol' midnight knows it, too.
Even midnight is aware of the artist's lingering love for his lost love.
When a quarrel we had needs mending,
The artist is willing to work things out and heal the relationship despite a previous fight with the lost love.
Does it mean that our love is ending.
The artist's doubts and fears start creeping in as their relationship seems to be on the verge of ending despite their efforts to fix it.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer realizes that he still desperately needs the lost love and has been feeling lost and empty without their presence.
You're out of my heart,
The artist has been trying to get over the lost love, but realizes that they are still very much a part of his heart.
And I'm out of my mind.
The singer is so consumed by his love for the lost love that he has become irrational and feels like he is losing his mind.
Let our hearts take wings'
The singer hopes that their love will rekindle and flourish once again.
'round midnight, midnight
The singer is hopeful that their love will rekindle and flourish around midnight, just like the memories that resurface at that time.
Let the angels sing, for your returning.
The artist wants to celebrate and welcome the lost love's return with great joy and happiness.
Till our love is safe and sound.
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that their love is safe and secure and to prevent it from breaking apart once again.
And old midnight comes around.
The singer is hopeful that their love will rekindle and flourish once again around the stroke of midnight.
Feelin' sad, really gets bad
The singer's sadness and feelings of loneliness intensify as midnight approaches and takes over his emotions.
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The song is centered around the haunting and painful memories that surface every night at the stroke of midnight, which the artist can't seem to shake off.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COOTIE WILLIAMS, BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, THEOLONIOUS S. MONK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind