The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Celebrating over 40 years since their founding in 1977, New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional foundation of brass band music and incorporated it into a blend of genres including Bebop Jazz, Funk and R&B/Soul. This unique sound, described by the band as a ‘musical gumbo,’ has allowed the Dirty Dozen to tour across 5 continents and more than 30 countries, record 12 studio albums and collaborate with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones. Forty-plus years later, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.
Roger Lewis - Baritone Sax/Vocals
Kevin Harris - Tenor Sax/Vocals
Gregory Davis - Trumpet/Vocals
Kirk Joseph - Sousaphone
TJ Norris - Trombone/Vocals
Julian Addison - Drums
Takeshi Shimmura - Guitar
The History of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
In 1977, The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social aid and pleasure clubs dated back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs would provide proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands, early predecessors of jazz as we know it, would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant dance tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late '70s, few of either existed. The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band, and over the course of these early gigs, the seven-member ensemble adopted the venue's name: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Website: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Open Up
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
what you gonna do to get it right?
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's song Open Up begins with a thought-provoking question that asks the listener to reflect on their purpose and goals in life. The phrase "what you gonna do for the rest of your life?" suggests that life is precious and finite, and encourages the listener to think about how they want to spend their remaining time. The following question, "what you gonna do to get it right?" urges the listener to consider their actions and decisions and how they can make a positive impact on their life and those around them.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a call to action, an encouragement to live intentionally and make the most of one's time on earth. The upbeat, brass-heavy music that accompanies the lyrics adds to this positive and motivational tone, serving as a reminder that life is full of possibilities and opportunities for growth and change.
Line by Line Meaning
what you gonna do for the rest of your life?
How do you plan to spend the remainder of your existence?
what you gonna do to get it right?
What actions do you intend to take in order to achieve success and fulfillment?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHARLES JOSEPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind