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.
I Mean You
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And never get love
You'd better let love depart
I know it's so, and yet I know
I can't get you out of my heart
You made me leave my happy home
You took my love and now you're gone
Love brings such misery and pain
I guess I'll never be the same
Since I fell for you
Well, it's too bad
And it's too sad
But I'm in love with you
You love me, then you snub me
But what can I do?
I'm so in love with you
I guess I'll never see the light
I get the blues most every night
Since I fell for you
Since I fell for you
The lyrics to Milt Jackson's song "I Mean You" explore the complex emotions and struggles of being in love. The opening lines, "When you just give love, And never get love, You'd better let love depart," portray a sense of disappointment and frustration when love is not reciprocated. It suggests that sometimes it is necessary to let go of love if it is not being returned. However, despite knowing this, the singer confesses, "I can't get you out of my heart." This line emphasizes the lingering presence of love and the difficulty of moving on.
The lyrics further delve into the aftermath of a failed relationship. The verses "You made me leave my happy home, You took my love and now you're gone" highlight the sadness and hurt caused by a lost love. The phrase "Since I fell for you" repeating throughout the song suggests that the singer's life has been significantly affected by this love and subsequent heartbreak. Love is portrayed as a source of misery and pain, with the line "Love brings such misery and pain, I guess I'll never be the same" expressing the lasting impact it has had on the singer.
The lyrics also touch on the conflicting nature of the singer's feelings. Despite the pain caused by the loved one's actions, the singer admits, "I'm in love with you." This line represents the struggle between the desire to move on and the inability to let go of love. The closing lines, "I guess I'll never see the light, I get the blues most every night, Since I fell for you," further reinforce the gloomy and melancholic tone of the song, conveying the lingering sadness experienced after falling in love and being left heartbroken.
Line by Line Meaning
When you just give love
When you only offer love
And never get love
And never receive love in return
You'd better let love depart
It would be wise to let love go away
I know it's so, and yet I know
I am aware of this truth, but still
I can't get you out of my heart
I cannot stop thinking about you
You made me leave my happy home
You caused me to abandon my joyful dwelling
You took my love and now you're gone
You took my affection and now you have departed
Since I fell for you
Ever since I fell in love with you
Love brings such misery and pain
Love brings intense suffering and anguish
I guess I'll never be the same
I assume I will never be unchanged
Since I fell for you
Since I fell in love with you
Well, it's too bad
Well, it is unfortunate
And it's too sad
And it is very sorrowful
But I'm in love with you
Yet, I am deeply in love with you
You love me, then you snub me
You express affection towards me, then disregard me
But what can I do?
But what options do I have?
I'm so in love with you
I am filled with overwhelming love for you
I guess I'll never see the light
I suppose I will never find happiness
I get the blues most every night
I experience deep sadness almost every night
Since I fell for you
Since I fell in love with you
Since I fell for you
Since I fell in love with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUDDY JOHNSON WOODROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind