Throughout the years, and changing line-ups, the group maintained a strong fan-base among jazz fans of all ages.
Basin Street Blues
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
The lyrics to the Dave Brubeck Quartet's song Basin Street Blues speak of a journey to New Orleans, the land of dreams, via the Mississippi River. The journey is painted as one filled with excitement as they steam down the river and are met by an old friend and a band at their destination. The destination is Basin Street, a street where the best folks always meet, where the proud and elite gather in what the singer describes as heaven on earth. The song speaks of the joy and sense of belonging they feel as they finally arrive, glad to be welcomed and where they can lose their Basin Street Blues.
The lyrics capture the essence of the joy that comes from a sense of belonging and being welcomed by friends in a place where one feels appreciated. The journey to New Orleans via the Mississippi River is also symbolic of the journey of life where one hopes to find the land of dreams, a place where they can feel at home and find happiness. The song's bluesy feel and the use of a saxophone solo by Paul Desmond adds to the mood, capturing perhaps the sense of nostalgia that comes with the search for the land of dreams, which is a constant theme in jazz music.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Do you want to join me?
To the Mississippi
Let's go to the Mississippi River
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Let's board a boat and go to the place we dream of
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The boat will take us down the river to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Our favorite band is waiting for us
Old friends there to greet us
We'll meet up with our old friends
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
The place where the rich and powerful gather
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
They say that heaven is on earth and it's called Basin Street
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the name of the street
Where the best folks always meet
The most important and influential people meet there
In New Orleans, land of dreams
In New Orleans, the city we dream of
You'll never know how nice it seems,
You won't believe how great it is
Or just how much it really means
You won't understand how special it is
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
I'm so happy to be there
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I'm welcomed with open arms and feel appreciated
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Where I can forget my worries and enjoy myself fully
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, the street we've been talking about
Is the street, mama
That's the street, my dear
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, where we can fulfill our dreams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Montross
I love Dave's playing. And I think he is a great and innovative composer. His stuff should be go to on any jazz lover's short list. That being said, not all gifted composers are gifted improvisers. This is yet another recording that is amazing, but Desmond and the composition is why. When I told my music PhD friend that Brubeck is a sub par improviser, you would have thought I told him 2+2 is 5. Again, great compositions, innovative ideas, beloved music, but the improv magic doesn't happen during his spotlight. There. Have at me.
John Benn
WOW
Totally agree with Sam.
In my opinion this is the number one jazz quartet of all time.
Amazing sounds & so,so good.
From a 72yo Aussie fan.
Samuel Agyakwa
Great Bass, great swing, great saxophone, great piano...Masterpiece.
robert nole
BRUBECK HAS GOT CLASS AND STYLE. HIS MUSIC SPEAKS FOR ITS SELF.
Elias Morales
Genius.
Elias Morales
Holy shit this was uploaded by an otaku. You go man.
60otaku4
Thank you so much, Elias-san!!
Otaku4 (^_^)/
Azul Fourcade
Hahaha you made me laugh 😂
木内bin
言葉と感覚の移り変わり。
ﾌﾞﾙｰﾍﾞｯｸは昔「ﾋｯﾌﾟでなくｸｰﾙだからカッコ悪い」的意見が多。今ｸｰﾙでｶｯｹｰ