Braff was a wonderfully characterful and melodic player with an immediately identifiable sound and unique tone on the cornet, an uncommon instrument in post-war jazz. He style was fundamentally based on that of earlier players including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett and Bunny Berigan but he transcended these influences to always sounds fresh, sparky and somehow modern.
He was born in Boston and began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.
He died February 10, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts.
"Sure, they’ve made statements about my supposedly combining a modern approach with a feeling for traditional forms. Well, people say all sorts of things, because they want to categorise and label. I’ve only ever had two labels. Either it’s good or it stinks." - Ruby Braff speaking in 1968
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Ruby Braff Lyrics
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You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
[Repeat: x2]
I ought to cross you off my list
But when you come a-knocking at my door
And I come running back for more
I should hate you, but I guess I love you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
The devil and the deep blue sea
The lyrics of Ruby Braff / Ralph Sutton's song "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" depict a dilemma that many people have experienced: being in love with someone who causes pain and heartbreak, but finding it impossible to let them go. The first two lines of the song express this conflict, with the singer stating that they don't want their lover, but they would hate to lose them either. This feeling of being stuck between a rock and a hard place is further conveyed in the chorus, where the singer repeats that they are "in between the devil and the deep blue sea."
The second verse of the song explores this conflict further, with the singer acknowledging that they should probably cut ties with their lover, but finding it impossible to resist their advances. The lyrics "when you come a-knocking at my door, fate seems to give my heart a twist, and I come running back for more" encapsulate this feeling of being helpless in the face of love. The final lines of the song bring the conflict to a close, with the singer admitting that they should hate their lover, but ultimately, they are still in love with them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" are a poignant reflection of the messy, complicated nature of love and relationships. Despite the pain that comes with loving someone who hurts us, it can be difficult to let go of that connection and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I have mixed feelings about you, even though I am not interested in you, I still do not want to lose you.
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I am stuck in a difficult situation, caught between two equally bad choices.
I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
I still have feelings for you, even though you have done something wrong or hurtful to me.
I ought to cross you off my list
I know I should let go of you and move on, but it is difficult.
But when you come a-knocking at my door
Even though I try to distance myself from you, I cannot resist you when you come back to me.
Fate seems to give my heart a twist
I feel helpless and unable to control my emotions when it comes to you.
And I come running back for more
I cannot resist the temptation of being with you, even though I know it may hurt me in the end.
I should hate you, but I guess I love you
Despite everything, I still have feelings for you and cannot bring myself to hate you.
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I am caught in a difficult situation with no easy way out.
The devil and the deep blue sea
A metaphor for being stuck between two equally bad choices.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, S.A. MUSIC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind