[Furious, Lightning-Fast Alto Sax Intro] (A cascade of complex, rapid notes that sound like a manic machine) [Verse 1] They tired of the uniforms and marching in step, Tired of the hotels where the singers never slept. Billie sang her sorrow under one lonely light, While the boys took the music deep into the night. Down in Minton’s basement, they tore up the chart, Turning the ballroom into a dangerous art. No dance to please for the crowd on the floor, Charlie Parker’s alto is breaking down the door. [Chorus] Play it too fast for a dulled mind to trace, A frantic revolution in a smoky little space. Lucky for some when the rules all dissolve, Watch the complex patterns that the rebels evolve. Fire the horn like a wire in the breeze, We're taking back the hive from the commercial bees. [Bridge: The Bebop Clash] (The alto sax and trumpet trade blistering, chaotic, rapid-fire phrases) [Spoken/Whispered Loop] Change the chord fast... Break the old mould... [Spoken/Whispered Loop] Out of the swing... Into the bold... [Outro] (The song stops on a dime, ending with a sharp, unexpected, dissonant two-note phrase: "Be-Bop!") The machine gun is quiet. The revolution is won. [Abrupt, complex 1940s bebop punctuation] [Fade to End]
Comments are disabled on this song