Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Morgan was a jazz prodigy, joining the Dizzy Gillespie big band at 18, remaining a member for two years. In 1956 he began recording as a leader, mainly for the Blue Note label; eventually he recorded twenty-five albums for the company. Morgan's principal influence as a player was Clifford Brown, having had direct contact with him before Brown's premature death.
He was also a featured sideman on several early Hank Mobley records, and John Coltrane's Blue Train. Joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1958 further developed his talent as a soloist and writer. He toured with Blakey for a few years, and was featured on Moanin, which is probably Blakey's best known recording. When Benny Golson left the Jazz Messengers, Morgan persuaded Blakey to hire Wayne Shorter, a young tenor saxophonist, to fill the chair. This classic version of the Jazz Messengers, including Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt would record the classic The Freedom Rider album.
Morgan tried to move in to the more advanced areas of the music in the early 1960s. He left the Jazz Messengers in 1961, struggling with heroin addiction, managing to kick his habit in his hometown. He returned to the music scene after a two-year absence, playing on Grachan Moncur III's essentially avant-garde Evolution album (his favourite work), and experimenting on some of his own recordings such as the title track of Search for the New Land (1964), but the popularity of his famous album, The Sidewinder, featuring Joe Henderson precluded his career developing in this way.
The title track of that record cracked the pop charts in 1964 and served as the background theme for Chrysler commercials during the World Series. The Sidewinder's crossover success in a rapidly changing pop music market caused Blue Note to rush the track's "Boogaloo" sound to market. This is evidenced in the mid-60s output of many Blue Note stars, including Morgan, and some of the lesser artists in the stable, releasing albums with modified and rythmically punchy blues tracks, such as "Yes I Can, No You Can't" on Morgan's own The Gigolo. In 1964 Morgan rejoined the Jazz Messengers, after his successor Freddie Hubbard departed, which had now become a sextet with the addition of Curtis Fuller to the group.
Alongside this commercial success, Morgan continued to record prolifically, producing such works as Search For the New Land which reached the top 20 of the R&B charts. His work became increasingly more modal and free towards the end of the sixties. He had begun to lead his own group, featuring Bernie Maupin as a multi-reedist.
Lee Morgan was murdered by his common-law wife, Helen More, with whom he was breaking up, following an argument between sets at Slug's, a popular New York City jazz club.
Latin Hangover
Lee Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I′ve been drinking too much for sure
I got a hangover, whoa!
I got an empty cup
Pour me some more
So I can go until I blow up, eh
So I can go until they close up, eh
And I don't ever ever want to grow up, eh
I wanna keep it going, ke-keep, keep it going, going, going, going...
I got a little bit trashed last night, night
I got a little bit wasted, yeah yeah
I got a little bit mashed last night, night
I got a little shhh faced it, yeah yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
I′m on the roof
If you don't know
Well now you know
I got a hangover, whoa!
I've been drinking too much for sure
I got a hangover, whoa!
I got an empty cup
Pour me some more
So I can go until I blow up, eh
So I can go until they close up, eh
And I can drink until I throw up, eh
And I don′t ever ever want to grow up, eh
I wanna keep it going, ke-keep, keep it going, come on!
Drink up, ′cause a party ain't a party ′til you ride all through it.
End up on the floor, you can't remember, you clueless.
Officer like what the hell is you doin′
Stumbling, fumbling, you wanna what? Come again?
Give me Henn, give me gin, give me liquor, give me champagne bubbles 'til I′m bent
What happens after that, you inspired, tell a friend
Just like my homie Taio, we can all sip again
Get it and again, and again
Leave evidence
Wasted, so what? Irrelevant.
Beer keg to the head, who selling it?
I got a hangover, that's my medicine
Don't mean to bragg or sound too intelligent
A little Jack can′t hurt this veteran
I show up but I never throw up,
So let the drinks go up, pour up
I got a hangover, whoa!
I′ve been drinking too much for sure
I got a hangover, whoa!
I got an empty cup
Pour me some more
So I can go until I blow up, eh
So I can go until they close up, eh
And I can drink until I throw up, eh
And I don't ever ever want to grow up, eh
I wanna keep it going, ke-keep, keep it going, come on!
I got a hangover, whoa!
I′ve been drinking too much for sure
I got a hangover, whoa!
I got an empty cup
Pour me some more
So I can go until I blow up, eh
So I can go until they close up, eh
And I can drink until I throw up, eh
And I don't ever ever want to grow up, eh
I wanna keep it going, ke-keep, keep it going, come on!
The lyrics to "Hangover" by Taio Cruz featuring Flo Rida refer to the experience of partying too hard and to the point of being hungover the next day. It is a celebration of the excesses of a night out, and the desire to keep the party going even when the body has reached its limit. The repetitive chorus "I got a hangover, whoa!" says it all; the singer has indulged too much and is paying the price, but still wants more.
The verses describe the feeling of being drunk and out of control, from stumbling and fumbling to being unable to remember what happened. The lyrics suggest the use of different kinds of alcohol to keep the night going, from Henn and gin to champagne, even if the end result is throwing up. The singer asserts that they don't want to grow up and stop partying, preferring instead to keep it going until they "blow up."
The song is ultimately a celebration of youth and living in the moment, even if it means suffering the consequences the next day.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a hangover, whoa!
Lee Morgan expresses his physical state of being hungover after consuming excessive alcohol.
I've been drinking too much for sure
The reason behind his current uneasy state is due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
I got an empty cup
Pour me some more
Despite his current state, Lee Morgan wants to continue consuming alcohol and requests for more.
So I can go until I blow up, eh
So I can go until they close up, eh
And I can drink until I throw up, eh
And I don't ever ever want to grow up, eh
I wanna keep it going, ke-keep, keep it going, going, going, going...
Lee Morgan expresses his desire to continue drinking alcohol until the ending of the party or closing of the bar. He never wants to act responsibly and wants to live in the moment.
I got a little bit trashed last night, night
I got a little bit wasted, yeah yeah
I got a little bit mashed last night, night
I got a little shhh faced it, yeah yeah
Lee Morgan reminisces about his previous night where he consumed excessive alcohol and became intoxicated.
I'm on the roof
If you don't know
Well now you know
Lee Morgan boasts and shares that he is on the roof, which could imply the consumption of drugs or excessive drinking.
Drink up, 'cause a party ain't a party 'til you ride all through it.
End up on the floor, you can't remember, you clueless.
Officer like what the hell is you doin'
Stumbling, fumbling, you wanna what? Come again?
Give me Henn, give me gin, give me liquor, give me champagne bubbles 'til I'm bent
What happens after that, you inspired, tell a friend
Just like my homie Taio, we can all sip again
Get it and again, and again
Leave evidence
Wasted, so what? Irrelevant.
Beer keg to the head, who selling it?
Lee Morgan encourages excessive alcohol consumption as the sign of a good party. He describes the effects of excessive drinking like stumbling, fumbling or blacking out, but admits that it's irrelevant. He offers to keep consuming alcohol and indulging in drugs just like his friend Taio.
Don't mean to bragg or sound too intelligent
A little Jack can't hurt this veteran
I show up but I never throw up,
So let the drinks go up, pour up
Lee Morgan, having consumed alcohol for a long time, thinks he can handle his liquor and refuses to stop drinking despite his friends' concerns.
Writer(s): Benny Golson
Contributed by Dylan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.