Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Kirk)

'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' is an instrumental jazz standard composed by Charles Mingus originally recorded by his sextet in 1959 and released on his album 'Mingus Ah Um'. Mingus wrote it as an elegy for saxophonist Lester Young, who had died two months prior to the recording session, and was known to wear a broad-brimmed pork pie hat.

Lyrics were added by Rahsaan Roland KIRK:

He put all of his soul into a tenor saxophone,
He had his way of talking, 'twas a language all his own,
Life's story, love and glory, if you listen, when he plays it for you,
Now listen and listen and dig it, can't you dig it?
Lester Young is playing what he's feeling
Dealing and dancing.

Now someone might have told you, Lester Young he's out of style.
But now I'm here to tell you, tell you, Prez is happening now.
Life's story, love and glory if you listen when he plays it for you
Now listen and listen and dig it, can't you dig it?
Lester Young is playing what he's feeling
Dealing and dancing on home.


Recordings exist by Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1976), June Tabor, Judy Niemack, Karrin Allyson, Jeanne Lee w/ Mal Waldron, Rigmor Gustafsson, Charene Dawn, Quintorigo, etc.