In the late 1990s Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing the album Timepeace in 1998, which won the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace. His colleagues at the University of Chicago never learned of Callier's life as a musician, but after the award the news of his secret life became widely known and subsequently led to his firing.[3][9]
As well as touring internationally, Callier continued his recording career, releasing five albums since Timepeace, including Lifetime (1999), Alive (2001), Speak Your Peace (2002) and Lookin' Out (2004). May 2009 saw his album Hidden Conversations featuring Massive Attack released on Mr Bongo records.[7][9] In 2001, Callier performed "Satin Doll" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo, a tribute to Duke Ellington, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Callier died on October 27, 2012, after a long illness.
Jazz My Rhythm & Blues
Terry Callier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And got me working overtime
And maybe that's the reason
I'm feeling dazed and confused
Random access memory
What happened to my mp3
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Well, I don't want weed and I don't need wine
The music starts and I feel fine
And that's the reason I'm inclined
To live the life that I choose
Now some folks out here talk and smile
They think they hip, but don't know jazz
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Blessings falling down on me
Flowing just like poetry, yeah
I'll be hoping some sweet day
Love will carry us away
Now ever since the world began
A truthful woman, a truthful man
You'd be fortunate if you can
Win one more than you lose
And something just occurred to me
Too many people still ain't free
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Yeah, jazz
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Yeah, jazz, jazz
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
The first verse of Terry Callier's "Jazz My Rhythm & Blues" is a lament of overworking and underpayment, lamenting the loss of a dime for the saving of a nickel which has resulted in having to work overtime. Callier then questions whether this is why he's feeling "dazed and confused." The second verse is a nod to modern technology, alluding to the loss of the singer's mp3 player, and how they use music as a means to feel fine. They go on to assert that jazz is the genre of music that makes them feel the best, and that those who "talk and smile" around them but fail to appreciate jazz are not really as "hip" as they might believe themselves to be.
The final verse is a reflection on the blessings in the singer's life, likening them to poetic flow. They express hope that love will "carry us away." But in the very next line, Callier reveals that this moment of hope was interrupted by a realization that too many people are not free, making jazz and rhythm & blues an even more essential means of escape for them. Through its lyrics, "Jazz My Rhythm & Blues" takes on the way music can act as an escape from the troubles of the world, but also as a means of baring witness to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Saved a nickel and lost a dime
Spent less money than I normally would, but ended up missing out on something more valuable
And got me working overtime
The extra work I did to save that money made me tired and stressed
And maybe that's the reason
It's possible that my exhaustion is behind my current mental state
I'm feeling dazed and confused
I'm feeling lost and uncertain
Random access memory
My thoughts are disconnected and jumbled up, like an old computer
What happened to my mp3
I don't understand why I can't focus on things I normally enjoy
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Jazz music is the only thing that can bring order to the chaos in my mind
Well, I don't want weed and I don't need wine
I don't need drugs or alcohol to feel good, just music
The music starts and I feel fine
As soon as the jazz music starts, my spirits lift and my mind clears
And that's the reason I'm inclined
That's why I prefer to live my life centered around music
To live the life that I choose
I want to make choices based on what makes me happy, and for me that's jazz music
Now some folks out here talk and smile
Some people act friendly, but don't really get what jazz music is about
They think they hip, but don't know jazz
They think they're cool, but they don't really understand the beauty and depth of jazz music
Blessings falling down on me
Good things are happening in my life
Flowing just like poetry, yeah
It feels like the good things in my life are happening effortlessly, as if they're part of a beautiful poem
I'll be hoping some sweet day
I'll continue to hope
Love will carry us away
that love will lift us up and bring us to a better place
Now ever since the world began
Since the beginning of time
A truthful woman, a truthful man
Honest people
You'd be fortunate if you can
It's rare to find honest people
Win one more than you lose
It's a good thing to have more good experiences than bad ones
And something just occurred to me
I just realized something
Too many people still ain't free
Many people still don't have freedom
Jazz, my rhythm & blues
Jazz music is a symbol of freedom and expression
Yeah, jazz
Jazz music is everything
Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.