Performed by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Lyrics by Billy Strayhorn
I used to visit all the very gay places,
those come-what-may places.
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life,
to get the feel of life —
from jazz and cocktails.
The girls I knew had sad and sullen gray faces,
with distant gay traces,
that used to be there you could see where
they’d been washed away
by too many through the day.
Twelve O’Clocktails.
Then you came along with your siren’s song
to tempt me to madness;
I thought for a while that your poignant smile
was tinged with the sadness
of a great love for me …
Ah yes, I was wrong …
again, I was wrong.
Life is lonely, again
and only last year,
everything seemed so sure.
Now life is awful, again,
the thoughtful of heart
could only be a bore.
A week in Paris will ease the bite of it,
all I care is to smile in spite of it.
I’ll forget you, I will
while yet, you are still
burning inside my brain …
Romance is mush,
stifling those who strive.
I’ll live a lush life
in some small dive …
And there I’ll be,
while I rot with the rest
of those whose lives are lonely too …
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Love the Lyrics, “A week in Paris will ease the bite of it,” love Coltrane’s Sax in this piece
I would encourage anyone who likes this classic gem to explore Coltrane’s ballads, such as recorded with Duke Ellington, or on “The Gentle Side of John Coltrane,” as well as to listen to this entire amazing Coltrane-Hartman collaboration (and there are some interesting observations on the making of this album on the provided Amazon link — such as that these two giants met only one time to make this album and it was recorded in just a few hours with Coltrane coming in later to add some additional saxophone tracks). I also strongly recommend Hartman’s other great album, “I Just Dropped By To Say Hello.” Many, but not all of these incredible songs by Coltrane and/or Hartman are available on You Tube, but it’s best naturally to buy or download the entire albums. Your soul will thank you for it.
Ahhhh, pretending to sit in a swanky jazz club sipping on a girly drink and letting myself enjoy this beautiful music…far away from the annoying child who is trying to dip his penis fingers into my coffee as I type this! Argggh!
Uh, maybe try another coffee shop? How romantic.
A few more examples of what I am talking about, Coltrane and Hartman:
“They Say It’s Wonderful”
“Dedicated To You”
“My One and Only Love”
“You Are Too Beautiful”
Oh, Thank you Steve, good stuff, it is time for me to add this to my ipod collection, I listened to this music so much growing up, I had forgotton to appreciate .. you’ve reminded me how pure and soulful ..
Hartman had a beautiful baritone voice and he was as far as I heard it a nice and decent person. Unfortunately he was a strong smoker….
Yes, he was a good man it seems, and vastly under known and under-appreciated, and I believe he died of throat cancer? Anyway, I had the immense pleasure of hearing him play live on two different occasions in Chicago jazz clubs, and got to shake his hand and pay my respects. Quite a thrill and honor, very charming man, a voice made of velvet, brandy, and cigarettes, a baritone that could reach lower that Gerry Mulligan’s sax.
Brill, brilliant music!!! Brings back memories of when I used to regularly sit in a “swanky jazz club” (haha Susan) and take a drink or two to the young man sitting outside, wrapped in a blanket and asking for silver. My brother also plays in a jazz band in Dublin – when you travel there again Steve, you will have to get to ‘Mother Redcap’s’ for a good night out!