Like many musical snobs, who consider ‘pop’ music an abomination and a plague (A POX on the Houses of Pop and Rap, say I!), music with words that I can understand irritates me. Words distract from the music itself, and reduce it to a supporting role; it’s music for non-musicians, perhaps even for the unmusical.

And like any generalisation, it is as idiotic as the subject it tries to typify. [See what I mean?]

So now we come to my theme song for this week: Body and Soul. Not just any Body and Soul, but a jazz rendition so wonderfully crafted after the sense of the words that the words have become superfluous. Yet the words had to exist for Coleman Hawkins to interpret the music as he has.

Have a look before you have a listen:

_You’re making me blue
All that you do
Seems unfair
You try not to hear
Turn a deaf ear
To my prayer
It seems you don’t want to see
What you are doing to me
My arms are waiting to caress you
And to my heart they long to press you, sweet heart_

_My heart is sad and lonely
For you I cry
For you, dear, only
I tell you I mean it
I’m all for you
Body and soul_

_I spend my days in longing
And wondering it’s me you’re wronging
Why haven’t you seen it
I’m all for you
Body and soul_

_I can’t believe it
It hard to conceive it
That you’d turn away romance
Are you pretending
Don’t say it’s the ending
I wish I could have one more change to prove, dear
My life a hell you’re making
You know I’m yours for just the taking
I’d gladly surrender
Myself to you
Body and soul_

_Life’s dreary for me
Days seem to be long as years
I’ve looked for the sun
But can see none
Through my tears
Your heart must be like a stone
To leave me like this alone
When you could make my life worth living
By taking what I’m set on giving, sweet heart_

_My heart is sad and lonely
For you I cry
For you, dear, only
I tell you I mean it
I’m all for you
Body and soul_

Every once in a while, it’s nice to be wrong.