Donaldson attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in the early 1940s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was trained at the Great Lakes bases in Chicago, where he was introduced to bop music in the lively club scene there. At the war's conclusion, he returned to Greensboro, where he worked club dates with the Rhythm Vets, a combo composed of A and T students who had served in the U.S. Navy. The band recorded the soundtrack to a musical comedy featurette, "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," in Greenville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1947. The movie had a limited run at black audience theatres in 1948 but its production company, Lord-Warner Pictures, folded and never made another film. "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" was subsequently restored by the American Film Institute in 1985 and re-premiered on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville the following year. Donaldson and the surviving members of the Vets performed a reunion concert after the film's showing. In the documentary made on "Pitch" by UNC-TV, "Boogie in Black and White", Donaldson and his musical cohorts recall the film's making—he originally believed that he had played clarinet on the soundtrack. A short piece of concert footage from a gig in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is included in the documentary.
Donaldson's first jazz recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950 and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey.
In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
Donaldson has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.
Don't Blame Me
Lou Donaldson Lyrics
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I've hung around you just like a fool
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
But it's too late now to call a halt
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
I like every single thing about you
Without a doubt you are like a dream
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
Ever since the hour of our meeting
I've been repeating a silly phrase
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
Lou Donaldson's song "Don't Blame Me" tells the story of a person falling deeply in love with someone who they happen to have met and have gotten to know in a lucky way. The person is not afraid to confess that they are head over heels in love and that they are completely under the spell of the other person's charm. The singer of the song is so smitten that they are unable to conceal the feelings of joy and excitement that they feel when they are around this person. It's a song that captures the romantic feelings that come with falling in love for the first time, and the depth of emotions that it can bring to a person's heart.
The song is a classic example of jazz music that uses the blues form to convey emotions through music. The use of the blues form allows the song to portray feelings of sadness, melancholy, and longing that are often associated with love. Throughout the song, there is a sense of yearning for the other person, and the singer is almost pleading for the person not to blame them for falling in love. The song uses simple and straightforward lyrics that express the feelings of the singer, making it easy for listeners to empathize with the emotions being conveyed.
In conclusion, Lou Donaldson's song "Don't Blame Me" is a beautiful love song that captures the essence of falling in love for the first time. The song is a great example of how jazz music can be used to convey emotions, and the blues form that is used in the song helps to create a sense of melancholy and longing that is often associated with love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the lucky night I found you
From the night I met you, I have been captivated by you.
I've hung around you just like a fool
I have been foolishly following you around.
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
I fell deeply in love with you like a naive schoolboy.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is in pain now.
But it's too late now to call a halt
Nothing can be done to change my feelings now.
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
If I become bothersome, it's all because of you.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I can't help but love you, please don't hold it against me.
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
You have enchanted me, I can't control my feelings.
Don't blame me!
Please don't blame me for my uncontrollable love for you.
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
Do you not realize the effect you have on me?
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
I can't hide the excitement and happiness I feel when I'm with you.
Don't blame; me.
Please don't fault me for my emotions.
I can't help it if that doggoned moon above
The moon above affects me and causes me to feel a certain way.
Makes me need someone like you to love!
The moon makes me yearn for someone like you to love.
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
Your loving kiss is to blame for my intense emotions.
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
Your irresistible charm is responsible for my feelings.
But don't blame me.
In summary, please don't blame me for being in love with you.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind