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 Surrender Dear
Ruby Braff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sworn enemy of love
Kept my lips from saying
Things I was thinking of.
But now my pride you've humbled,
I've cast it to the winds,
Broken, beaten, sick at heart
My confession begins.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear and shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
I surrender, dear.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear And shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
The lyrics to Ruby Braff's song "I Surrender Dear" capture the emotions of a person who has been too proud to confess their love for someone. The singer acknowledges that their pride made them keep their feelings hidden, but it has now been humbled, and they are ready to make a confession. The song talks about the game of stay away, and the cost of playing that game, but ultimately, the singer surrenders to their feelings, saying that they can no longer make their way without their loved one.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer has been pretending to be proud and gay, but that it's just a pose. They are not that way deep down in their heart, where they have always wanted to surrender to their beloved. The song goes on to talk about the little mean things that were done in the course of wooing, and the shadows that fall when stars appear, referring to moments of sadness and introspection. Finally, the song ends with the singer confessing that they surrender their love, their life, and their all to their beloved.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Surrender Dear" are a poignant portrayal of a person who has overcome their pride to confess their innermost feelings to someone they love. It highlights the human tendency to keep one's true feelings hidden and to hide behind a facade of pride and aloofness.
Line by Line Meaning
Pride, sad, splendid liar,
My pride has made me dishonest with my love for you and causes me sadness.
Sworn enemy of love
My pride keeps me from feeling and expressing love.
Kept my lips from saying
Things I was thinking of.
I have been unable to express my true feelings because of my pride.
But now my pride you've humbled,
I've cast it to the winds,
Broken, beaten, sick at heart
My confession begins.
My pride has been broken and I am now confessing my love for you.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more than I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I have tried to stay away from you, but it has cost me too much. I can't live without you so I'm giving in and surrendering to our love.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Although I may seem proud and uninterested, it's just a facade. In my heart, I know I am surrendering to my love for you.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
Our quarrels were perhaps a part of our love game, but I don't care whose fault it was. I just want to be together with you.
When stars appear
And shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear
My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
I surrender, dear.
In the darkest moments, I will still call out to you because I am completely surrendering my love, my life, and my all to you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thom Liakos
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