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.
You Go To My Head
Lee Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you linger like a haunting refrain
And I find you spinning round in my brain
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
You go to my head
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
And I find the very mention of you
The thrill of the thought
That you might give a thought to my plea, cast a spell over me
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Can't you see that it never can be?
You go to my head
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand July's
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
You go to my head
You go to my head
In Lee Morgan's song "You Go To My Head", he describes the feeling of being completely consumed by someone he desires. The lyrics express that this person is constantly on his mind, almost like an obsession, and he can't seem to get rid of the thoughts of them. The imagery of "haunting refrain" and "spinning round in my brain" gives a sense of how the person is stuck in his head like a song that won't stop playing. He relates this feeling to the bubbles in a glass of champagne, implying that it's intoxicating and overwhelming.
The second verse continues the comparison to alcohol, as he says that the mere mention of the person is like "the kicker in a julep or two", adding a level of excitement to his thoughts. He acknowledges that the thrill of the possibility that the person might feel the same way is what keeps him captivated, even though he knows deep down that it's unlikely. He tries to talk himself out of it, telling himself to "get a hold of yourself" because he knows it can never be. However, the person's smile and gaze still affect him deeply, lighting a fire in him like the heat of summer.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Go To My Head" illustrate the overwhelming feeling of desire and infatuation, comparing it to the bubbles in champagne and the warmth of summer. The analogy to alcohol suggests that this feeling is almost like a high, something that is too tempting to resist despite the unlikelihood of it leading anywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to my head
You occupy my thoughts and emotions to an overwhelming extent.
And you linger like a haunting refrain
Your presence remains with me long after you leave, just like a memorable melody that continues to play in my head.
And I find you spinning round in my brain
You constantly preoccupy my mind and thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
Just like the bubbles that rise to the top of a glass of champagne, you are effervescent and your presence makes me feel light and bubbly inside.
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
Similar to how a sip of sparkling burgundy wine can be intoxicating and invigorating, you arouse the same sensations and feelings in me.
And I find the very mention of you
Even the mere mention of your name or the thought of you is enough to stir up emotions and feelings within me.
Like the kicker in a julep or two
Just like the ingredients in a julep cocktail that enhance its flavor and kick, you have the same effect on me and my emotions.
The thrill of the thought
The excitement and anticipation of the idea that you might reciprocate my feelings.
That you might give a thought to my plea, cast a spell over me
If you were to consider my advances, it would have a profound and magical impact on me, captivating me even more.
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Despite my overwhelming emotions, I remind myself to remain in control and not get too carried away with my feelings.
Can't you see that it never can be?
I am aware that our love is not meant to be and that my feelings for you are unrequited.
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Your smile has a radiant and contagious effect on me, causing my emotions and physical sensations to intensify.
Like a summer with a thousand July's
Your presence is like the hottest and most intense summer month, July, multiplied by a thousand, making me feel alive and electric.
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Your eyes have a potent and addictive effect on me, filling me with an overwhelming sense of attraction and longing.
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Despite my certainty that my heart belongs to you and you alone.
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
I have come to terms with the fact that our love is impossible and that my feelings for you will never be reciprocated.
You go to my head
You continue to occupy my thoughts and emotions to an immeasurable and inescapable extent.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J.F. Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind