VOCALESE LYRICS TO TENOR SAXOPHONE SOLO
words written by Eddie Jefferson
saxophone improvisation by Coleman Hawkins (studio date 1939)

based on
BODY AND SOUL
original lyrics by Heyman, Sour, and Eyton
original music by Johnny Green
see separate lyrics thread for the original words (1929 - 1930)

Don't you know, he is the King of Saxophones
Yes, indeed he is
Talking about the guy that
Made it sound so good
Some people know him by "The Bean"
But Hawkins is his name

He sure can swing, and play pretty, too
Sounds good to me
Should sound good to you
I love to hear him playing "Body and Soul"
Very -- pleasing --
to -- the -- ear
When I first heard it on the record
I just stopped right there
Sounded like a band of angels in the sky
And I have never, ever, heard a sweeter tone

In fact, I paid no attention to the saxophone
'Til Coleman Hawkins came along
And spoke to everyone
Saying, better listen
Won't you hear me while I play for you
Sometimes it's hot
Then again it's blue
My soul just seems to wander
Pleasing each and everyone is what I've long been craving for
The doors have not been always open
But I am trying to please you
Please, don't try to stop me
Hope you like it, folks
And then he started cookin'

Every time he played some melodic melody
Fast or slow
You can tell that it's Hawkins
No other one
Ever has quite captured his tone
Just he alone
Has the sound that penetrates
It will sure go right through you
Yes, it will
And every chorus
Gives you just another thrill

Dixieland or Jazz, it makes no difference
Everyone in Europe really digs him
In Germany, in gay Paree
It's "Ja!" and "Oui! oui!"
All his fans in Sweden love him
Place no one above him
Here in the USA
I hear them say
O Hawkins still the man
He's had his own band
Folks in all lands
Give him their hand
'Cause he's so grand
Yes sirree
And in New Zealand
Music lovers are still talking
About Coleman Hawkins
All around the world he is known

There can be no doubt about
His knowledge of the horn
He must have been born
To blow the tenor
'Cause the melody just flows everywhere
Flows right through the air
Oh yeah
And I've got to remind you
Twenty years it took him
Playing every day
To obtain his first claim to fame
He was twenty years ahead of his time
And he knew it
But he kept right on cookin'

He went all around the world
Making rhythm
'Cause music sure was in him
And he knew it was
Benny Goodman was King of Swing
Everybody loved to dance
Hawkins knew he had a chance
At playing the music
So he blew
And he blew, and he blew, and he blew
He blew his tenor
And he played it summer and winter

Then he cut his masterpiece
And now
I'm trying to sing it for you
Hope that I am getting through to everyone
There I go

I didn't mean to reminisce
YOu can surely bet
That I won't forget
'Cause I haven't yet

Good - Bye

under copyright, surely, don't know the publisher


And here is the recording of tap-dancer/vocalese lyricist
Eddie Jefferson
singing his own words with a backup band

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Threads combined. For the most part, we try to keep information on songs together, not split into separate threads. I could see no reason for a separate "vocalese" thread.
-Joe Offer-