Lyrics Outside of the Box of the Great American Songbook

Ruby My Dear aka Dear Ruby

2007-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful ballad that was written by Thelonius Monk. Sally Swisher wrote the beautiful lyrics to this piece.

Ruby my dear
Hold back that tear
I know he’s gone
Your love has flown
Your all alone

Oh I know you cried
There’s no reply

Plainly Goes on
It doesn’t go
Cause you say so

Bridge
One day he came to you and made the music play in his way
You said you’d rather die
Than say goodbye

But there come a day
Though he’s away
You sing his song, you carry on
Ruby my dear

I Remember Clifford

2006-05-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is a tune written by the great saxophonist and composer Benny Golson. It is a tribute to the late, great trumpet player Clifford Brown. I believe the lyrics was written by Ray Charles. If I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me.

I Remember Clifford
song - Benny Gloson
lyrics - ray Charles

I know he'll never be forgotten
He was a king uncrowned
I know I'll always remember
The warmth of his sound
Lingering long I'm sure he's still around
For those who heard they respect him yet
So those who hear won't forget
The sound of each phrase
Echoing time uncountable by days
The things he played are with us now
And they'll endure should time allow
Oh yes I remember Clifford
I seem to always fed him near somehow
Every day I hear his lovely tone
In every trumpet sound that has a beauty all its own
So how can we say something so real has really gone away?
I hear him now, I always will
Believe me I remember Clifford still.

Take Five

2006-05-06T10:46:00.001-07:00

Music - Dave Brubeck
Lyrics - Al Jarreau

Won't you stop and take a little
Time out with me, just take five
Stop your busy day and take the
Time out to see if I'm alive

Though I'm going out of my way
Just so I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime and not a play

Still, I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way

Wouldn't it be better not to be so polite
You could offer a light
Start a little conversation now, it's alright
Just take five, just take five

~ IMPROVISATION ~

(Repeat from 2nd verse to end)

Spain

2006-05-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Spain
-----
(Music by Chick chorea, Words by Al Jareau)

Adagio ---->

Yesterday, just a photograph of yesterday...
And all it's edges folded and the corners faded sleepy brown.
And yet it's all I have of our past love,
A post script to it's ending.

Brighter days, I can see such brighter days.
When every song we sang is sung again.
And now we know, we know this time it's for good.
And we're lovers once again...and you're near me.

Verse I
- -------
I can remember the rain in December, the leaves of brown, on the ground...

In Spain I did love and adore you!
The nights filled with joy were our yesterdays
And tomorrow will bring you near me.

Bridge
- ------
I can recall my desire
Every reverie is on fire
And I get a picture of all my yesterdays,
Yesterday I can say.
I get a kick every time they play...that spain again!

Verse II
- --------
I can remember the rain in December, the leaves of brown, on the ground...

Our love was a spanish fiesta
The bright lights and songs were our joy each day!
And the nights were the heat of yearning.

Bridge
- ------
I can recall my desire
Every reverie is on fire
And I get a picture of all my yesterdays,
Yesterday I can say.
I get a kick every time I see...you gaze at me

Verse III
- ---------
I see moments of history
Your eyes meet mine and they dance to the melody
And we live again, as if dreaming

The sound of our hearts beat like castenettes
And forever we'll know their meaning.

Solos's - 2 verses
- ------------------

Verse IV
- --------
You gaze at me...I see moments of history.
Your eyes meet mine and they dance to the melody.
And we live again, as if dreaming

The sound of our hearts beat like castenettes
And forever we'll know their meaning.

Vocal solos - 2 verses
- ----------------------

Verse IV

Verse I

Bridge --> ritard...

Little Sunflower: Freddie Hubbard, Leon Thomas

2006-05-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

These are lyrics that Leon Thomas used from singing Little Sunflower by Freddie Hubbard.

Beauty beyond compare
The rainbow in your hair
Little sunflower

Your people proud and strong
Wise with ancestor long
Little sunflower

Sunlight from your father
Shining on the sea of life

Moonlight from your mother
Giving for the milk of life

Moody's Mood For Love

2005-08-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is a vocalese that Eddie Jefferson wrote to James Moody's solo in the song I'm in the Mood for Love (McHugh, Fields)

Vocalese is when someone takes an intrumental solo in a jazz peice or any piece and writes lyrics to it. Jon Hendrics and Eddie Jefferson are the godfathers of vocalese. I will discuss more in detail later about those two great musicians. But here is the great lyric:

Moody's Mood For Love

There I go, there I go, there I go, there I go
Pretty baby you are the soul, that snaps my control
Such a funny thing but everytime your near me
I never can behave
You give me a smile and I'm wrapped up in your magic
There′s music all around me
Crazy music, music that keeps calling me so
Baby close to you, turns me your slave
Come on and do with me any little thing that you want to
Anything, baby just let me get next to you

am I insane or do I really see heaven in your eyes?
Bright as stars that shine up above you
In the clear blue sky, how I worry bout you
Just can't live my life without you
Baby come here, don't have no fear
Oh, is there wonder why
I'm really feeling in the mood for love

So tell me why, stop to think about this weather, my dear
This little dream might fade away
There I go talking out of my head again baby won't you
come and put our two hearts together
That would make me strong and brave
Oh, when we are one, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
If there's a cloud up above us
Go on and let in rain
I'm sure our love together would endure a hurricane
Oh my baby won't you please let me love you
And get a release from this awful misery

What is all this talk about loving me, my sweet
I am not afraid, not anymore, not like before
Don't you understand me, now baby please
Pull yourself together, do it very soon
My heart's on fire, come on and take
I'll be what you make me, my darling

Oh baby, you make me feel so good
Let me take you by the hand
Come let us visit out there
In that new promised land

Maybe there we can find
A good place to keep a lovin' state of mind
I'm so tired of being without it
And never knew what love was all about
James Moody would you come on hit me,
you can blow now if you want to, I'm through

Blue Bossa

2005-08-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Blue Bossa music by Kenny Dorham, lyrics by Tim Brent

And now the dance begins just me and you
Dancing on a cloud of midnight hue
Holding you so close, my thoughts of love begin.
Here with you, Our bossa blue, I'll stay

The haunting melody just lingers on,
While the rhythm flows until the dawn.
With our hearts entwined this midnight rendevous,
Here with you, our bossa blue will play

That's all I can find for Blue Bossa. Tim Brent who is a great arranger wrote a nice arrangement for this tune. Any questions just hit me up with an email.

2005-07-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Night in Tunisia
Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie

The moon is the same moon above you
A glow with its cool evening light
But shining at night in Tunisia
Never does it shine so bright

The stars are aglow in the heavens
But only the wise understand
That shining at night in Tunisia
They guide you through the desert sand
Words fail, to tell a tale
Too exotic to be told
Each night's a deeper night
In a world ages old
The cares of the day seem to vanish
The ending of day brings release
Each wonderful night in Tunisia
Where the nights are filled with peace

Not yet Posted

2005-07-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Main Entry: jazz
Pronunciation: 'jaz
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: origin unknown

1 a : American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre
b : popular dance music influenced by jazz and played in a loud rhythmic manner
2 : empty talk : HUMBUG
3 : similar but unspecified things : STUFF

Main Entry:lyr·ic
Pronunciation: 'lir-ik
Function: noun1 : a lyric composition; specifically : a lyric poem
2 : the words of a song -- often used in plural