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
I'm In The Market For You
Ruby Braff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Find out what he can do,
'Cause I'm in the market for you.
There won't be any joker,
With margin I'm all through,
'Cause I want you outright, it's true.
I want a thousand shares of your caresses, too.
We'll count the hugs and kisses,
When dividends are due,
'Cause I'm in the market for you!
The song "I'm In The Market For You" by Ruby Braff is a whimsical, romantic tune that cleverly incorporates stock market metaphors into the lyrics. The singer is expressing his desire for someone and compares his interest in them to wanting to purchase stock. He says he needs to consult his broker to see what he can do, implying that he needs to make sure he has enough resources to pursue a relationship. He then states that he is through with taking chances, suggesting that he wants to invest fully in this person, rather than playing it safe with margin or partial ownership. The playful tone continues as the singer talks about wanting a thousand shares of their caresses and counting hugs and kisses like dividends. Overall, the song conveys the message that love can be just as exciting and rewarding as investing in the stock market.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by James F. Hanley and Joseph McCarthy in 1930, the same year the stock market crashed and triggered the Great Depression. It's possible that the use of stock market metaphors in the lyrics was an attempt to make light of or distract from the economic troubles of the time. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Harry Connick Jr. It was also featured in the 1940 film "Broadway Melody of 1940," performed by Buddy Ebsen and Eleanor Powell.
Another interesting fact is that the song includes a reference to the popular song "Ain't Misbehavin'," with the lyric "I'm in the market for you, for bananas and for Ains". This is a play on words, as "Ain't Misbehavin'" was written by Fats Waller, who was known for his love of bananas. The song also includes some clever wordplay with phrases like "sell me your charms" and "buying your line".
The chord progression for "I'm In The Market For You" is as follows:
Verse: G7 C7 G7 C7 G7 C7 D7 G7
Chorus: G7 C7 G7 C7 G7 Dm7 G7 C7 G7
Line by Line Meaning
I'll have to see my broker,
I need to consult my broker to determine my financial capability before investing in you.
Find out what he can do,
I need to assess my broker's capability before making any investment decisions.
'Cause I'm in the market for you.
I am interested in investing in you and starting a romantic relationship with you.
There won't be any joker,
I am serious and committed to investing in you.
With margin I'm all through,
I am no longer interested in investing in anyone else other than you.
'Cause I want you outright, it's true.
I am not interested in any other investments, you are the only one I want.
You're going up, up, up in my estimation,
My admiration and attraction to you is increasing exponentially.
I want a thousand shares of your caresses, too.
I want to receive physical affection and love from you just as much as I want to invest emotionally in you.
We'll count the hugs and kisses,
I look forward to expressing and receiving affection from you, just like a stock that yields dividends.
When dividends are due,
When the time comes, we will reap the rewards of investing in each other.
'Cause I'm in the market for you!
I want to invest in you emotionally and start a committed romantic relationship with you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES F. HANLEY, JOSEPH ALLAN MCCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind