Scott Hamilton is a jazz tenor saxophonist associated with swing (music) an… Read Full Bio ↴Scott Hamilton is a jazz tenor saxophonist associated with swing (music) and mainstream jazz.

He emerged in the 1970s and at the time he was considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins as well as Zoot Sims and Don Byas forward. He began playing in various rhythm & blues outfits in Providence (Rhode Island), but subsequently shifted to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976 he moved to New York City at, in part the recommendation of Roy Eldridge. He there joined Benny Goodman for a period of time. During this time, he also developed an alcohol problem.,[1] In the early 1980's he had formed his own quintet and toured all over the world. By then free from his drinking habit, in 1982 he had matured sufficiently to be able to break away from the spell of mainly Ben Webster and Zoot Sims, of whom he had been criticized of imitating. From this point on both his playing and his tone was very much his own.

Living in New York City, he toured all around the world during the 1980's, playing Japan and all over Europe. He was in particular a recurrent visitor to the UK, Sweden and the Grand Parade du Jazz, held in Nice, France. By the early 1990's he was ready for a next step and by 1994 when he released Organic Duke, he had developed a quite singular style: a large, well rounded but still focused tone and improvising, ostensibly still based on the swing idiom (especially Ellington), but incorporating more modern elements. During this period, he relocated to London, and formed his current quartet, featuring John Pearce (p), Dave Green (b) and Steve Brown (dr). He is currently active touring all over Europe.

He has had over forty albums as a lead most on the Concord Records label.

Black Velvet
Scott Hamilton Lyrics

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I must confess what you say is true
I had a rendezvous with somebody new
That's the only one I ever had
Baby, baby, don'cha go away mad

Cheatin' shows and it never goes
You got a reason to be mad I suppose
But she only was a passin' fad

Baby, don't you be mad

Her kind's a dime a dozen
And that's not the kind I want
Who'd ever dream your cousin
Would wander into that restaurant?

I understand that you feel upset
What do you say that you forgive and forget?
Come on and kiss me just to show you're glad
Baby, baby, don'cha go away mad

Now, her kind's a dime a dozen
I should've passed her by
Who'd ever dream your cousin
Would come along and give us the eye?

I understand that you feel upset
What do you say that you forgive and forget?
Come on and kiss me just to show you're glad
Baby, don'cha go away mad

Understand that you're quite upset
What do you say that you forgive and forget?
Come on and kiss me just to show you're glad
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby

Baby, baby, baby, don'cha go 'way mad
Now, don'cha go away mad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Black Velvet" by Scott Hamilton tell a story of a man who has cheated on his partner and is now trying to apologize and make amends. The singer confesses to having had a "rendezvous" with someone else and acknowledges that his partner has a reason to be upset. However, he tries to downplay the situation by referring to the other woman as a "passing fad" and a "dime a dozen." The singer pleads with his partner not to be angry or leave him, asking her to kiss him and show him that she forgives him.

The lyrics are full of remorse and regret, with the singer admitting his mistake and attempting to make things right. He offers apologies, praise, and reassurance, asking his partner not to leave him and doing his best to downplay the severity of his mistake. Despite the subject matter, the song is upbeat and almost cheerful, with the cheerful saxophone melody and the catchy refrain of "baby, baby, baby" lending the song a fun, carefree feel.

Line by Line Meaning

I must confess what you say is true
I admit that what you're saying is accurate.

I had a rendezvous with somebody new
I met up with someone else.

That's the only one I ever had
It was only this one time.

Baby, baby, don'cha go away mad
Don't be mad, please.

Cheatin' shows and it never goes
Cheating is evident and doesn't go away.

You got a reason to be mad I suppose
You're justified in your anger, I guess.

But she only was a passin' fad
She was just a brief fling.

Baby, don't you be mad
Don't be upset, please.

Her kind's a dime a dozen
There are many others like her.

And that's not the kind I want
I don't want someone like her.

Who'd ever dream your cousin
Who would have thought your cousin.