A very expressive player, Jackson differentiated himself from other vibraphonists in his attention to variations on harmonics and rhythm. He was particularly fond of the twelve-bar blues at slow tempos. He preferred to set the vibraphone's oscillator to a low 3.3 revolutions per second (as opposed to Lionel Hampton's speed of 10 revolutions per second) for a more subtle vibrato. On occasion, Jackson would also sing and play piano professionally.
He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, who hired him for his sextet in 1946. He quickly acquired experience working with the most important figures in jazz of the era, including John Coltrane, Woody Herman, Howard McGhee, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. In the Gillespie big band one of his jobs was to play in a quartet with John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke while the horn section took a break from the demanding high-register horn parts. This group became the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), which had a long independent career of 20 years until disbanding in 1974 over financial problems (though it reformed in 1981). Jackson then toured alone, performing in various small combos.
From the mid-70s to the mid-80s, Jackson recorded for Norman Granz's Pablo Records, including the classic, "Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company" (1983), featuring Jackson with J.J. Johnson on trombone, Ray Brown on bass, backed by Tom Ranier on piano, guitarist John Collins, and drummer Roy McCurdy.
He also guested on recordings by many leading jazz, blues and soul artists, such as B.B. King, Ray Charles, etc.
His composition "Bags' Groove" ("Bags" was his nickname, from the 'bags' under his eyes from staying up late) is a jazz standard. He has been featured on the NPR radio program Jazz Profiles.
Bye Bye Blackbird
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low
Bye, bye, blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye, bye, blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye, bye
Bye, bye, blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye, bye, blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye, bye
The lyrics of Milt Jackson's song Bye Bye Blackbird speak to the feelings of loneliness and isolation that the singer seems to experience. He expresses a sense of not belonging in the place where he currently is as nobody here can love or understand him. The use of the phrase "hard luck stories" suggests that he has tried to connect with others in the past but has received negative responses or pity from them. This has probably made him feel even more isolated and misunderstood.
There is a sense of resolve in the chorus as he decides to pack up his cares and woes and head out, "winging low". The line "Where somebody waits for me" suggests that there is a place or a person elsewhere where he feels a sense of belonging and comfort. He talks about how sugar is sweet, which may be an allusion to the sweetness of life that he feels he can find in this other place or with this person.
The last lines repeat the idea of leaving or saying goodbye to the blackbird, which may symbolize the singer's old life and troubles. The act of making his bed and turning on the light suggests that he is preparing to leave, but he will arrive late tonight, indicating that this journey will not be immediate. Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of feeling disconnected and searching for a place where one can belong.
Line by Line Meaning
No one here can love or understand me
Nobody in the current location is able to connect with me emotionally or understand me intellectually
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
People here often share their sad and unfortunate stories with me
Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low
I am leaving this place with my worries and troubles packed, and flying away as low as possible
Bye, bye, blackbird
Goodbye, I am leaving now
Where somebody waits for me
There is someone waiting for me in another place
Sugar's sweet, so is she
The person waiting for me is sweet, just like sugar
No one here can love or understand me
I cannot find any emotional connections or intellectual understanding in this current location
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
People in this location often share sad stories with me, which causes me distress
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Prepare my bed and switch on the light, I will be arriving late tonight
Blackbird, bye, bye
Goodbye, I am leaving now
Bye, bye, blackbird
Goodbye, I am leaving now
Where somebody waits for me
There is somebody waiting for me in another place
Sugar's sweet, so is she
The person waiting for me is sweet, just like sugar
Bye, bye, blackbird
Goodbye, I am leaving now
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind