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
Lady Be Good
Ruby Braff Lyrics
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It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.
The lyrics of Ruby Braff's song "Lady Be Good" is a story of a lonely woman who is dressed up but has nowhere to go. She is looking for a handsome guy to be with to alleviate her loneliness. She believes that if she finds someone like the person she is singing to (whom she considers sweet and lovely), she can "blossom out". The woman implores the listener to be good to her and have pity on her situation, as she is all alone in the big city.
The lyrics convey feelings of isolation, longing, and helplessness. The woman is seeking someone to rescue her from her loneliness and fulfill her desire for companionship. The repetition of the plea for the lady to be good to her emphasizes how important it is for her to find someone to save her from her misery.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to my tale of woe,
Please hear about the sad story of my life,
It's terribly sad but true,
It's an extremely sorrowful story, but it's real,
All dressed up, no place to go
Although I'm well-dressed, I don't have anywhere to be,
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
Every night I'm consumed by sadness and loneliness.
I must win some handsome guy
I need to find a good-looking man to be with,
Can't go on like this,
I can't continue living like this,
I could blossom out I know,
I have the potential to improve and flourish,
With somebody just like you. So
If only I had someone like you to be with. So,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, kind and caring lady, treat me well,
Oh, lady, be good to me
Please show me kindness,
I am so awfully misunderstood
People don't seem to understand me,
So lady, be good to me
So please be kind to me,
Oh, please have some pity
Please feel sympathy for me,
I'm all-alone in this big city
I'm all alone in this large metropolis,
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
I'm simply a solitary and helpless person,
So lady be good to me.
So I implore you, treat me well.
Oh lady be good to me.
Oh please be kind to me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind