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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

HE DIDN'T SHOW UP TO PICK IT UP.

Hi,
I don't understand very well the meaning on this sentence from Miles Davis's Autobiography:
'The music was originally meant for Buddy Miles, the drummer, AND HE DIDN'T SHOW UP TO PICK IT UP.'

Does it mean that Buddy Miles didn't arrive in time to make it? or just didn't perform it?

Thanks in advance, Jo.
  

Top answer

On the context provided, it looks like a straight statement of fact - he failed to turn up and collect the sheet music

— Feebs11

  • On the context provided, it looks like a straight statement of fact - he failed to turn up and collect the sheet music
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3 Answers
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On the context provided, it looks like a straight statement of fact - he failed to turn up and collect the sheet music
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Without further context it says simply that Buddy Miles didn't [arrive / make an appearance / keep his appointment] to [take / collect / get] the music, presumably written music which had been written for him. Being in time is not really part of the meaning. He may never have appeared at all. Performing the music doesn't seem to me to have anything to do with the meaning, either.
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Note:

I don't understand very well the meaning ...

You have split the verb from its object with an intervening adverbial expression. This cannot be done in English! If your native language allows this, you may have to struggle with it a while before it becomes natural for you not to create such structures!

Write instead: I don't understand the meanin
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