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.
Everything Happens To Me
Scott Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I'm almost mad
I must have 'roused the devil's wrath
Cause all my luck is bad
I make a date for golf and you can bet your life it rains
I try to give a party and the guy upstairs complains
I guess I'll go through life
Just catchin' colds and missin' trains
Everything happens to me
I never miss a thing
I've had the measles and the mumps
And every time I play an ace
My partner always trumps
Guess I'm just a fool who never looks before he jumps
Everything happens to me
At first my heart thought you could break this jinx for me
That love would turn the trick to end despair
But know I just can't fool this head that thinks for me
I've mortgaged all my castles in the air
I've telegraphed and phoned
I send an "Airmail Special" too
Your answer was "Goodbye"
And there was even postage due
I fell in love just once
And then it had to be with you
Everything happens to me
The lyrics to the song "Everything Happens To Me" by Scott Hamilton, are a reflection of one's perception of their luck or lack thereof. The opening line, "Black cats creep across my path, until I'm almost mad" is meant to draw the listener in and set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is feeling unlucky, believing that they have somehow offended the devil which has set off a chain reaction causing everything to go wrong. The imagery of a date for golf being ruined by rain, or annoying the neighbors when hosting a party, are examples of relatable everyday occurrences. The chorus, "Everything happens to me, I never miss a thing, I've had the measles and the mumps, and every time I play an ace, my partner always trumps. Guess I'm just a fool who never looks before he jumps" encapsulates the frustration and helplessness of being stuck in a cycle of head-shaking misfortune.
In the second verse, the singer talks about love and how they were hoping for it to bring them out of their unlucky streak. However, even in love, things didn't work out for them as they had hoped. They have tried everything they can think of including telegraphing and phoning, but even their attempts at love have failed. In the end, the singer seems to have given up hope, having "mortgaged all my castles in the air" and having a final blow of even their love failing. Overall, "Everything Happens to Me" speaks to a universal experience of having everything go wrong at once and feeling helpless to change it, even in matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Black cats creep across my path
I consistently see black cats crossing my path, which instills a sense of superstitious dread and unease.
Until I'm almost mad
This constant bad luck drives me to the point of almost losing my sanity.
I must have 'roused the devil's wrath
My misfortune seems to have awakened the ire of the devil or some other malign force.
Cause all my luck is bad
I seem to be fated to experience only bad luck.
I make a date for golf and you can bet your life it rains
Every time I plan to play golf, it inevitably rains, despite how unlikely it may seem.
I try to give a party and the guy upstairs complains
When I attempt to throw a party, my upstairs neighbor never fails to complain about the noise.
I guess I'll go through life
I feel resigned to the fact that this is simply how my life will unfold.
Just catchin' colds and missin' trains
My life is full of minor but frustrating setbacks, like catching a cold or missing a train.
Everything happens to me
The sum total of my experiences adds up to a sense that everything in my life is tinged with negative outcomes.
I never miss a thing
Despite my attempts to avoid misfortune, all events seem to conspire against me, and I continually experience every hardship that comes my way.
I've had the measles and the mumps
My chronicle of bad luck is so extensive that it includes common childhood illnesses.
And every time I play an ace
Even when the odds seem to be in my favor or I have a winning hand, my life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.
My partner always trumps
Someone else always seems to land the winning card or claim the top prize, leaving me with nothing.
Guess I'm just a fool who never looks before he jumps
Despite experiencing so much misfortune, I am unable to change my mindset and predict or avoid future negative outcomes.
At first my heart thought you could break this jinx for me
Initially, I believed that my love for you might break the streak of bad luck that has plagued me.
That love would turn the trick to end despair
I thought that my feelings for you would be enough to overcome the despair I feel due to my persistent misfortune.
But now I just can't fool this head that thinks for me
Unfortunately, I am now cognizant of the fact that positive emotions alone cannot solve deeper issues.
I've mortgaged all my castles in the air
I have staked everything on an unrealizable dream or false hope.
I've telegraphed and phoned
I have tried every possible avenue to communicate my feelings and intentions, all to no avail.
I send an 'Airmail Special' too
I even went so far as to send an extravagant, special delivery message to express the depth of my feelings.
Your answer was 'Goodbye'
Despite my efforts, you ultimately rejected my advances and chose to part ways.
And there was even postage due
Not only did you reject me, but I also had to pay an additional fee just to have my message delivered.
I fell in love just once
In my life, love has been a rare commodity, which makes the loss of it all the more devastating.
And then it had to be with you
Unfortunately, my one experience of true love ended in heartbreak, adding to the list of hardships in my life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind