John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist.

He was born in Inglewood, California. Sims' family was involved in vaudeville, and, for his part, John learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. Zoot's father was a vaudeville hoofer, and Zoot prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him.

Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. Throughout his career, he played with renowned bands, including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. He was known among his peers as one of the strongest swingers in the field. Sims frequently led his own combos and sometimes toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan with Gerry's sextet, and later with his Concert Jazz Band. Zoot had a long, successful partnership as co-leader of a quintet with Al Cohn, which recorded under "Al and Zoot". That group was a favorite at the New York club "The Half Note." Late in his career, Sims added the soprano saxophone to his performances. Sims' nickname — Zoot — was acquired early in his career while he was on the Kenny Baker band in California. The name was later appropriated for a sax-playing Muppet.

Zoot Sims died in New York on March 23, 1985.

(2) Throughout his career, Zoot Sims was famous for epitomizing the swinging musician, never playing an inappropriate phrase. He always sounded inspired, and although his style did not change much after the early 1950s, Zoot's enthusiasm and creativity never wavered.

Zoot's family was involved in vaudeville, and he played drums and clarinet as a youth. His older brother, Ray Sims, developed into a fine trombonist who sounded like Bill Harris. At age 13, Sims switched permanently to the tenor, and his initial inspiration was Lester Young, although he soon developed his own cool-toned sound. Sims was a professional by the age of 15, landing his first important job with Bobby Sherwood's Orchestra, and he joined Benny Goodman's big band for the first time in 1943; he would be one of BG's favorite tenormen for the next 30 years. He recorded with Joe Bushkin in 1944, and even at that early stage, his style was largely set.

After a period in the Army, Sims was with Goodman from 1946-1947. He gained his initial fame as one of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" during his time with the Second Herd (1947-1949). Zoot had brief stints with Buddy Rich's short-lived big band, Artie Shaw, Goodman (1950), Chubby Jackson, and Elliot Lawrence. He toured and recorded with Stan Kenton (1953) and Gerry Mulligan (1954-1956). Sims was also a star soloist with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band of the early '60s and visited the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman in 1962. A freelancer throughout most of his career, Sims often led his own combos or co-led bands with his friend Al Cohn; the two tenors had very similar sounds and styles. Zoot started doubling on soprano quite effectively in the '70s. Through the years, he appeared in countless situations, and always seemed to come out ahead. Fortunately, Zoot Sims recorded frequently, leading sessions for Prestige, Metronome, Vogue, Dawn, Storyville, Argo, ABC-Paramount, Riverside, United Artists, Pacific Jazz, Bethlehem, Colpix, Impulse, Groove Merchant, Famous Door, Choice, Sonet, and a wonderful series for Pablo. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

I Cover the Waterfront
Zoot Sims Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I cover the waterfront,
I'm watching the sea,,
Will the one I love,
Be coming back to me?

I cover the waterfront,
In search of my love,
And I'm covered by,

A starless sky above.

Here am I,
Patiently waiting,
Hoping and longing,
Oh! How I yearn!
Where are you?
Are you forgetting?
Do you remember?
Will you return?

I cover the waterfront,
I'm watching the sea,

For the one I love,
Must come back to me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Zoot Sims's song I Cover the Waterfront deals with a heartbroken person who is waiting for their loved one to return. The metaphor of covering the waterfront suggests that the person is searching and keeping a watchful eye over every possible place their loved one might return from. The sea, being vast and unpredictable, represents the unknown and uncertain future of whether or not the loved one will actually return. The line, "Will the one I love, be coming back to me?" is a recurring theme that emphasizes the person's desperate hope and longing for their loved one's return.

The second stanza continues the theme of searching and the uncertainty of the situation. The person is "covered by a starless sky above," which suggests that there is no light or guidance to lead them to their loved one. The imagery of a "starless sky" also suggests a feeling of loneliness and despair. The following lines show the person's state of mind as they wait and hope for their loved one's return. The lyrics, "Hoping and longing, Oh! How I yearn!" emphasizes the emotional turmoil the person is going through.

The final stanza is an expression of the person's deep longing for their loved one to come back. The repetition of the word "waiting" emphasizes their continued watchful gaze over the sea, and the line "Will you return?" further shows the uncertainty of the situation. The final lines, "For the one I love, must come back to me," provide a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the person believes their loved one will return.

Overall, the lyrics to I Cover the Waterfront are deeply emotional, highlighting the distress and despair of a person waiting and hoping for the return of their beloved. The metaphor of covering the waterfront and watching the sea provide an atmosphere of uncertainty, which adds to the emotional power of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I cover the waterfront,
I'm roaming around the shores,

I'm watching the sea,,
Eagerly keeping a lookout on the vast stretches of water,

Will the one I love,
Is my beloved going to come?

Be coming back to me?
Or will they leave me forever?

I cover the waterfront,
I walk up and down the beaches searching for my love,

In search of my love,
In hopes of finding my love.

And I'm covered by,
Underneath the dark and starless sky,

A starless sky above.
There's nowhere for me to hide.

Here am I,
I'm standing here waiting patiently,

Patiently waiting,
Hoping that you'll come back to me.

Hoping and longing,
I yearn for your return