Born in New York City, his jazz work was chiefly in the hard bop, post-bop and free jazz genres. He is known for his distinctive chord voicings and adaptable style, which was originally inspired by the playing of Thelonious Monk.
After obtaining a B.A. in music from Queen's College, New York, he worked in New York City in the early 1950s with Ike Quebec, "Big" Nick Nicholas, and rhythm and blues groups. He worked frequently with Charles Mingus from 1954 to 1956 and was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist from 1957 until her death in 1959. He also supervised recording sessions for Prestige Records, for which he provided arrangements and compositions (including the jazz standard "Soul Eyes"). After Holiday's death he chiefly led his own groups.
Waldron had a unique playing style. He played chords in a lower bass part of the keyboard, and is comparable to Bud Powell in his dissonant voices. His solo style is in noted contrast to players like Red Garland.
He was frequently recorded, both as a leader and sideman, with, among others, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Booker Little, Steve Lacy, Jackie McLean and Archie Shepp.
Besides performing he composed for films (The Cool World, Three Bedrooms In Manhattan and Sweet Love Bitter), theatre, and ballet. In 1963 he had a major nervous breakdown, and had to re-learn his skills, apparently by listening to his own records. Waldron's playing style re-emerged more brooding, starker and percussive, combining bebop and avant-garde melodies, and at times weaving repetitive melodic motifs using just a few notes over a drone like accompaniment figure. After working on a film score in Europe he moved there permanently in 1965 initially living in Munich, Germany and in his last years he was based in Brussels, Belgium. On the principle that working at local venues reduced his fee, he avoided playing in the city in which he lived. He regularly returned to the United States for bookings.
Through the 1980s and 1990s he worked in various settings with Steve Lacy, notably in soprano-piano duets playing their own compositions as well as Monk's.
After some years of indifferent health, though continuing to perform, Waldron died in December 2002 in Brussels, Belgium.
Don't Blame Me
Mal Waldron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
The opening lines of Mal Waldron's song Don't Blame Me are a declaration of love and devotion. The singer found the person they love and has been hanging around them ever since, even at the cost of feeling foolish. The lyrics also mention falling in love like a kid out of school, highlighting the innocence and naivety of the feeling. However, as the song progresses, the singer realizes that their love is not reciprocated, and it's too late to turn back. They are now in an "awful state," but cannot stop feeling the way they do. The chorus becomes an almost defensive statement, asking not to be blamed for falling in love with the person. Instead, the lyrics suggest that it's the other person who should be blamed for the effect they have on the singer.
The second verse reiterates the idea of being under the other person's spell, acknowledging that they can't help the way they feel. The moon above is mentioned, perhaps indicating that the feeling of being in love is something beyond their control, almost like a cosmic force. The singer begs the other person to see what they are doing to them, how the things they do and the way they behave are affecting them. The lyrics of the chorus are repeated, culminating in the final lines, where the singer implores the other person not to blame them for their own charms and the kiss that is as sweet as can be.
Overall, the song's lyrics speak to the helplessness that often comes with falling in love. It also emphasizes the power that one person can have over another, making it difficult for the feelings of love to be controlled or ignored.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the lucky night I found you
From the moment I met you, I knew I was lucky.
I've hung around you just like a fool
I can't help but spend all my time around you, even if it makes me look foolish.
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
I am completely and utterly in love with you like a naive child.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is in a terrible condition due to my love for you.
But it's too late now to call a halt
I can't stop myself from loving you now.
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
If I become bothersome or annoying, it's because you've captured my heart.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I can't help but love you, so don't fault me for it.
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
You have enchanted me, and I can't resist it.
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
I can't help but react to the things you do to me.
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
I am too excited by you to hide it.
Don't blame; me.
Please don't hold it against me.
I can't help it if that doggoned moon above
The moon has a strange power over me that I cannot resist.
Makes me need someone like you to love!
The moon makes me crave someone like you to love.
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
It's your fault for kissing me so wonderfully.
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
Your irresistible charms are to blame for making me hold onto you tightly.
But don't blame me.
Please don't put the blame on me for being in love with you.
I like every single thing about you
Every little thing about you I find delightful.
Without a doubt you are like a dream
You are so perfect that it feels like a dream to be with you.
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
I imagine us as a perfect match, working together as a team.
Ever since the hour of our meeting
From the moment we first met.
I've been repeating a silly phrase
I've been saying something foolish over and over again.
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
I am hoping that you will realize how much I care for you one day.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind