Zuunzug

  • St. James Infirmary (by Cab Calloway)

    Dans la première vidéo, une superbe version live de « St. James Infirmary » par Cab Calloway.

    Dans la deuxième, un « Betty Boop Cartoon » complètement déjanté dans lequel est utilisé cette même chanson (à partir de 4:20) dans une version studio enregistrée en 1931 par Cab Calloway et son orchestre.

    St. James Infirmary (traditional) :

    Folks, I’m goin’ down to St. James Infirmary
    See my baby there;
    She’s stretched out on a long, white table
    She’s so sweet, so cold, so fair

    Let it go, let it go, god bless her
    Wherever she may be
    She will search this wide world over
    But she’ll never find another sweet man like me

    When I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches
    Put on a box-back coat and a Stetson hat
    Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
    So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat

    An’ give me six crap shooting pall bearers
    Let a chorus girl sing me a song
    Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head
    So we can raise Hallelujah as we go along

    Folks, now that you have heard my story
    Say, boy, hand me another shot of that booze;
    If anyone should ask you
    You just tell ’em I’ve got those St. James Infirmary blues

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  • Innocent When You Dream (Tom Waits)

    Somewhere in the United States (probably), in the late 80’s (maybe).

     

     

    This is a song my dad taught me when I was a kid.
    That’s a lie.
    This is a song I learned from some kids in the alley behind the theatre
    That’s a lie too.
    I learned this from Gregory Peck.
    That too is a lie.
    They’re all lies.
    The whole song is a lie.
    No it’s not.
    I learned this from Pavarotti…

    The bats are in the belfry
    The dew is on the moor
    Where are the arms that held me
    And pledged her love before
    And pledged her love before

    And it’s such a sad old feeling
    All the fields are soft and green
    It’s memories that I’m stealing
    But you’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream

    I made a golden promise
    That we would never part
    I gave my love a locket
    And then I broke her heart
    And then I broke her heart

    And it’s such a sad old feeling
    All of the fields are soft and green
    And it’s memories that I’m stealing
    But you’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream

    We’ve running through the graveyard
    And we laughed, my friends and I
    We swore we’d be together
    Until the day we died
    Until the day we died

    And it’s such a sad old feeling
    All of the fields are soft and green
    And it’s memories that I’m stealing
    But you’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream

    And it’s such a sad old feeling
    The fields are soft and green
    And it’s memories that I’m stealing
    But you’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream
    When you dream
    You’re innocent when you dream

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  • Alberta Hunter sings the blues

    Alberta Hunter a commencé sa carrière de chanteuse dans les années 20. En 1922, elle écrit « Downhearted Blues » dont Bessie Smith fera un énorme succès l’année suivante. Elle enregistre beaucoup dans les années 20 et 30 puis disparaît petit à petit de la scène avant de se retirer définitivement dans les années 50. Elle sera infirmière pendant plus de 20 ans et ne reprendra la chanson qu’à la fin des années 70 quand l’hôpital où elle travaillait l’obligera à prendre sa retraite!

    La vidéo qui suit est tirée de « Jazz at the Smithsonian : Alberta Hunter (1982) », elle avait alors 87 ans. Elle est accompagnée de Gerald Cook au piano et Jimmy Lewis à la contrebasse et interprète le génial « Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out » de Jimmy Cox.

    Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (Alberta Hunter change une bonne partie des paroles originales…) :

    I once lived the life of a millionaire
    Spending my money I didn’t care
    Always taking my friends out for a good time
    Buying champagne, gin and wine
    But just as soon as my dough got low
    I couldn’t find a friend, no place I go
    If I ever get my hands on a dollar again
    I’m gonna squeeze it, and squeeze it
    Till the eagle grins

     

    Nobody knows you when you’re down and out
    In your pocket, not one penny
    And your friends, you haven’t any
    And as soon as you get on your feet again
    Everybody is your long lost friend
    It’s mighty strange, without a doubt, but
    Nobody wants you when you’re down and out

    You know folks, I once had a mansion
    Way up on the side of a hill
    I’d give champagne and caviar parties
    Just for fun and get a thrill
    But you know things they just can’t stay like that forever
    And now I can’t muscle up enough money
    To buy a shot of gin

    But you know, if I ever get my hands on a dollar again
    I’m gonna squeeze it, and squeeze it till the eagle grins
    It’s mighty strange, without a doubt
    Nobody wants you
    Nobody needs you
    Nobody wants you when you’re down and out

    Alberta_Hunter
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