McKenzie played the comb by placing tissue paper over the tines and blowing on it, which produced a sound similar to a kazoo. McKenzie also played the kazoo proper, and occasionally sang. He was a co-founder, with Jack Bland, of the Mound City Blue Blowers, who released a number of titles between 1924 and 1925 and were, for a time, a sensation. At the same time, McKenzie also recorded solo as Red McKenzie & the Candy Kids. In 1928, he fronted a group called McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans for a few sides on Okeh Records. He returned to the Mound City name again in 1929, 1931, and 1935-36.
Beginning in 1931 (no doubt due to the popularity of crooners like Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo), he started recording as a singer, processing a very warm crooner style as a solo for Columbia and with Paul Whiteman in 1932. He sang again with the Spirits of Rhythm in 1934 and the Farley-Riley group in 1935. He made two swinging vocal records for Variety in 1937. Between 1939 and 1943 he went into retirement, moving back to his birthplace of St. Louis and working in a brewery, but appeared with Eddie Condon between 1944 to 1947 as a vocalist. Known as heavy drinker, he died of liver cirrhosis in 1948.
Basin St. Blues
Red McKenzie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
In Red McKenzie's song Basin St. Blues, the lyrics describe a trip down the Mississippi River from the perspective of someone who is eager to experience the legendary jazz scene in New Orleans. The opening verse invites the listener on this journey, specifically to the "land of dreams" and "Basin Street," which is known for being the hub of New Orleans jazz culture. The second verse describes the welcoming atmosphere of the city, with a band waiting to meet and old friends there to greet. The song emphasizes the idea that Basin Street is a place where the "best folks always meet" and is a metaphor for a promised land of opportunity and community.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this image further, as Basin Street is presented as a place "where welcome's free and dear to me," a place where the singer can "lose my Basin Street blues," or leave their worries behind. The final chorus repeats the refrain of "Basin Street, oh Basin Street" while identifying New Orleans as the "land of dreams," underscoring the theme that this location is a symbol of hope and possibility. The lyrics in the song focus on the cultural significance of Basin Street and the mythical status it held in relation to the jazz scene in New Orleans.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Come with me
To the Mississippi
Let's go to the Mississippi River
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We'll take a boat to New Orleans, the city known for its good times and music
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
We'll sail down the river to reach New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
The band will be there to greet us upon arrival
Old friends there to greet us
We'll meet old friends in New Orleans
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is where the elite gather in New Orleans
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Basin Street is a paradise-like place
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is a famous street in New Orleans
Where the best folks always meet
The prominent people in the city always gather on Basin Street
You'll never know how nice it seems
You'll never know how great it is
Or just how much it really means
Or how much it means to be there
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
We'll be happy to be there
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where people are welcoming and hospitable
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Where I can forget about my problems and be happy
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, the famous street in New Orleans
Is the street, mama
It's the street to be
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, a city full of opportunities
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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