Desmond was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was a U.S jazz saxophonist.
Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California on 25th November 1924. He came to prominence with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which lasted from 1951 until 1967. Desmond wrote their biggest hit, "Take Five".
Desmond's alto saxophone tone and technique owed nothing to the great alto player of the time, Charlie Parker; instead his was a clear, light, floating sound and highly melodic playing style. Much of the success of the classic Brubeck quartet was due to the superposition of his fragile, airy sound over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, polytonal piano work.
Desmond died on 30th May 1977.
Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Desmond was influenced by Lester Young, but took it further, into melodic and harmonic worlds never before traveled by reedmen -- especially in the upper registers. Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his infamous composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Jazz at Oberlin and Take Five were considered essential purchases by college students of the era, but Jazz Impressions of Japan was its most innovative recording. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. Desmond's recordings for RCA have gotten box-set treatment and Mosaic issued one of the complete sessions with Hall. There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
Trolley Song
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
For the moment I saw him I fell
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He asked my name I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
"Buzz, buzz, buzz" went the buzzer
"Plop, plop, plop" went the wheels
"Stop, stop, stop" went my heartstrings
As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and it was grand
Just to stand with his hand holding mine
All the way to the end of the line
The Trolley Song by Paul Desmond is a classic love song that tells a story of a woman who falls in love with a man on a trolley ride. The song begins with the sound of the trolley's bell, followed by the woman's heartstrings resonating with a 'zing' as her eyes lock with her love interest. The sound of the motor and the brake of the trolley cause her heartstrings to thump as she feels the car shake with excitement.
The man tips his hat and takes a seat beside her, and they strike up a conversation. She is so nervous that she cannot speak when he asks for her name. As the ride continues, the sound of the buzzer and wheels create a buzz and plop, respectively. But the woman's heartstrings completely stop as the man prepares to leave the trolley. She takes hold of his sleeve, and he stays on, holding her hand all the way to the end of the line.
Overall, the lyrics offer a perfect picture of the old-timey romance, set against the sounds of transportation, with the rhythm of the words matching perfectly with the sound of the trolley. The Trolley Song is an iconic tune that captures the enthusiasm of the roaring '20s and is still appreciated by people of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
"Clang, clang, clang" went the trolley
The trolley made a loud noise as it moved on the tracks.
"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
The bell rang to signal the trolley's arrival at a station.
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
For the moment I saw him I fell
The singer fell in love at first sight and her heart skipped a beat.
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
The trolley's motor made loud noises as it moved.
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
The brakes made a thudding sound as the trolley stopped.
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
When he smiled, I could feel the car shake
The singer's heart raced when the person she fell in love with smiled at her.
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He greeted her politely and apologized for any inconvenience.
He asked my name I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
The artist was intimidated by the person she fell in love with and couldn't speak.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz" went the buzzer
The trolley's buzzer made a loud noise to signal its departure.
"Plop, plop, plop" went the wheels
The trolley's wheels made a thudding sound as it moved.
"Stop, stop, stop" went my heartstrings
As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
The singer's heart sank when the person she fell in love with was about to leave, and she tried to stop him.
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and it was grand
Just to stand with his hand holding mine
All the way to the end of the line
The person the artist fell in love with stayed with her, and they both had a great time holding hands until they reached their destination.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind