Lyrics and memory
“I Thought About You”, a great tune by Jimmy van Heusen (lyrics by Johnny Mercer), was the first jazz standard I ever learned the lyrics to:
I took a trip on a train
And I thought about you
I passed a shadowy lane
And I thought about you
Two or three cars parked under the stars
A winding stream
Moon shining down on some little town
And with each beam, same old dream
At every stop that we made
Oh, I thought about you
But when I pulled down the shade
Then I really felt blue
I peeked through the crack and looked at the track
The one going back to you
And what did I do?
I thought about you
These words are engraved in my memory. I was about 17 and learned this song for my jazz ensemble at the conservatory in my hometown of Groningen, the Netherlands. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but now, many years later, I realize that leaning these words made my brain internalize the tune much more powerfully. I will never forget this song.
One of the versions I used to learn the lyrics was this great vocal rendition by Billie Holiday:
Phrasing
What’s more, learning the lyrics helps with phrasing — the way that you use legato, articulations, and dynamics to play the melody. You don’t want to just play the notes robotically, but instead deliver them with intention, as if you were a singer expressing the words to an audience.
Chordal instrumentalists can easily overlook this skill. I certainly have been guilty of that in the past! But we are playing songs — melodies that are sung — even if we play them on an instrument.
Variations
Learning lyrics is important not only when you want to phrase the melody exactly as “intended” or written, but also when you make variations of the melody and put a personal spin on the song. Having the lyrics “sing” along in your mind helps tie it all together, even when you’re using different notes. It’ll keep your phrasing in line with the original melody.
Have a listen to Miles Davis’s version from his 1961 album Someday My Prince Will Come, and listen to how, even with his many variations, you can hear the lyrics in your mind. His phrases are singing!
Reharmonization
I loved revisiting this song after so many years. It still gives me a feeling of excitement and the youthful sense of discovery I feel when learning new songs. I tried to keep that same playful spirit of exploration and creativity in mind — along with, of course, the lyrics of the song!
Hope you enjoy my reharmonization:
Conclusion
I hope you found this post helpful and you enjoyed my version of I “Thought About You.” Let me know in the comments if learning lyrics has helped you with learning songs, or let me know your favorite lyrics.
For tips on reharmonization, download my free Reharmonization Quick Guide here.
