Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong all cited Lee as one of their favorite singers.
Peggy Lee had Norwegian and Swedish ancestry. She was the seventh of eight children born to Marvin Egstrom, a station agent for the Midland Continental Railroad. Her mother died when she was four years old. Music provided her an escape from the abusive rampages of her cruel stepmother, Min, who tormented and beat young Norma. She first sang professionally with KOVC radio in Valley City, North Dakota. She soon landed her own series on a radio show sponsored by a local restaurant that paid her "salary" in food. Both during and after her high school years, she took whatever jobs she could find, waitressing and singing for paltry sums on other local stations. Radio personality Ken Kennedy (actual name: Ken Sydness), of WDAY in Fargo (the most widely listened to station in North Dakota) changed her name from Norma to Peggy Lee. Tired of the abuse from her stepmother, she left home and traveled to Los Angeles at the age of 17.
She returned to North Dakota for a tonsillectomy and eventually made her way to Chicago for a gig at The Buttery Room, a nightclub in the Ambassador Hotel West in Chicago, where she drew the attention of Benny Goodman, the jazz clarinetist and band leader. According to Lee, "Benny's then-fiancée, Lady Alice Duckworth, came into the Buttery, and she was very impressed. So the next evening she brought Benny in, because they were looking for replacement for Helen Forrest. "And although I didn't know, I was it. He was looking at me strangely, I thought, but it was just his preoccupied way of looking. I thought that he didn't like me at first, but it just was that he was preoccupied with what he was hearing." She joined his band in 1941 and stayed for two years.
In early 1942, Lee had her first # 1 hit, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place", followed by 1943's "Why Don't You Do Right?" (originally sung by Lil Green), which sold over a million copies and made her famous. She sang with Goodman in two 1943 films, Stage Door Canteen and The Powers Girl.
In March 1943, Lee married Dave Barbour, the guitarist in Goodman's band. Peggy said, "David joined Benny's band and there was a ruling that no one should fraternize with the girl singer. But I fell in love with David the first time I heard him play, and so I married him. Benny then fired David, so I quit, too. Benny and I made up, although David didn't play with him anymore. Benny stuck to his rule. I think that's not too bad a rule, but you can't help falling in love with somebody."
When Lee and Barbour left the band, the idea was that he would work in the studios and she would keep house and raise their daughter, Nicki. But she drifted back towards songwriting and occasional recording sessions for the fledgling Capitol Records in 1947, for whom she produced a long string of hits, many of them with lyrics and music by Lee and Barbour, including "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "It's a Good Day" (1948). With the release of the smash-hit #1-selling record of 1942, "Mañana", her "retirement" was over.
In 1948, she joined Perry Como and Jo Stafford as one of the rotating hosts of the NBC Radio musical program Chesterfield Supper Club. She was also a regular on NBC's Jimmy Durante Show during the 1938-48 season.
She left Capitol for a few years in the early 1940s, but returned in 1943. She is most famous for her cover version of the Little Willie John hit "Fever", to which she added her own, uncopyrighted lyrics ("Romeo loved Juliet," "Captain Smith and Pocahontas") and her rendition of Leiber and Stoller's "Is That All There Is?" Her relationship with the Capitol label spanned almost three decades, aside from her brief but artistically rich detour (1952-1956) at Decca Records, where she recorded one of her most acclaimed albums Black Coffee (1956). While recording for Decca, Lee had hit singles with the songs "Lover" and "Mr. Wonderful."
She was also known as a songwriter with such hits as the songs from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp, for which she also supplied the singing and speaking voices of four characters. Her many songwriting collaborators, in addition to Barbour, included Laurindo Almeida, Harold Arlen, Sonny Burke, Cy Coleman, Gene DiNovi, Duke Ellington, Dave Grusin, Dick Hazard, Quincy Jones, Francis Lai, Jack Marshall, Johnny Mandel, Marian McPartland, Willard Robison, Lalo Schifrin, Hubie Wheeler, guitarist Johnny Pisano and Victor Young.
Lee also acted in several films. In 1952, she played opposite Danny Thomas in a remake of the early Al Jolson film, The Jazz Singer. In 1955, she played a despondent, alcoholic blues singer in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955), for which she was nominated for an Oscar.
Peggy won a Grammy in 1969 as best contemporary female vocalist (for her recording of Is That All There Is?) and was awarded a Doctor of Music Honoris Causa degree from North Dakota State University, in 1975.
In the early 1990s, she retained famed entertainment attorney Neil Papiano, who, on her behalf, successfully sued Disney for royalties on Lady and the Tramp. Lee's lawsuit claimed that she was due royalties for video tapes, a technology that did not exist when she agreed to write and perform for Disney.
Never afraid to fight for what she believed in, Lee was passionate that musicians be equitably compensated for their work. Although she realized litigation had taken a toll on her health, Lee often quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson ("God's will will not be made manifest by cowards.")
She also successfully sued MCA/Decca with the assistance of noted entertainment attorney, Cy Godfrey.
She continued to perform into the 1990s, sometimes in a wheelchair, and still mesmerized audiences and critics alike.[citation needed]
In 1995 she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
After years of poor health, Lee died of complications from diabetes and heart attack at the age of 81. She is survived by Nicki Lee Foster, her daughter with Barbour. She is buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California. On her marker in a garden setting is inscribed, "Music is my life's breath."
Fever
Peggy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever, when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the mornin'
Fever all through the night
Sun lights up the day time
Moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name
And you know I'm gonna treat me right
You give me fever when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the mornin'
Fever all through the night
Everybody's got the fever
That is somethin' you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing
Fever started long time ago
Romeo loved Juliet
Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her
He said, "Julie baby you're my flame"
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Fever with thy flaming youth
Fever I'm on fire
Fever yea I burn forsooth
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Had a very mad affair
When her daddy tried to kill him
She said "Daddy, oh don't you dare"
"He gives me fever, with his kisses"
"Fever when he holds me tight"
"Fever, I'm his missus"
"Daddy won't you treat him right?"
Now you've listened to my story
Here's the point that I have made
Chicks were born to give you fever
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
They give you fever
When you kiss them, fever if you really learn
Fever till you sizzle
What a lovely way to burn
What a lovely way to burn
What a lovely way to burn
What a lovely way to burn
The song "Fever" by Peggy Lee is a classic jazz-pop tune that has stood the test of time. It's a song that is all about the passion and heat that can be generated between two people who are attracted to each other. The lyrics of the song are simple and straightforward, but they convey a powerful message about the intensity of desire that can be felt when two people come together.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for what is to come. "Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care," Peggy sings. These lines suggest that the love and affection that the singer feels is so strong that it's hard to express in words. However, when the object of her affection puts their arms around her, she starts to feel a fever that's hard to bear. This fever is both a physical and emotional response to the heat of the moment.
The second verse of the song continues this theme of heat and intensity. Peggy sings that the sun lights up the daytime, the moon lights up the night, but when her loved one calls her name, she lights up inside. This line suggests that her love for this person is so strong that it illuminates her entire being. Once again, she talks about the fever that she experiences when she is kissed or held tight.
Overall, the song "Fever" is a powerful testament to the intensity of desire and the emotional and physical response that can be generated between two people. It's a song that has stood the test of time and continues to be loved by music fans around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Never know how much I love you
I have so much love for you, and I worry that you don't know that.
Never know how much I care
I am full of affection for you, and I hope you recognize it.
When you put your arms around me
Physical contact with you creates a sensation within me.
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
I experience an intensely overwhelming passion for you that cannot be ignored.
You give me fever, when you kiss me
Your kisses ignite a passion within me and create an intense emotional and physical reaction.
Fever when you hold me tight
My longing for you intensifies when we embrace intimately.
Fever in the mornin'
This feeling consumes me in the morning upon waking up.
Fever all through the night
This passion is an enduring feeling, and is present at all hours of the night.
Sun lights up the day time
The sun illuminates the daytime sky.
Moon lights up the night
The moon provides light during the night.
I light up when you call my name
I feel joyous and my face lights up upon hearing my name from you.
And you know I'm gonna treat me right
I am confident that you will treat me well and with kindness.
Everybody's got the fever
This passion is not unique to me, and everyone has experienced it at some point.
That is somethin' you all know
This is a universal feeling that is known by everyone.
Fever isn't such a new thing
These intense feelings have existed for a long time and are not new.
Fever started long time ago
This feeling has been around for centuries.
Romeo loved Juliet
The tragic story of two lovers is well-known.
Juliet she felt the same
The feelings between Romeo and Juliet were mutual.
When he put his arms around her
Physical contact between the two lovers created strong emotions.
He said, "Julie baby you're my flame"
Romeo expressed his love for Juliet with passion.
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Romeo compares his passion for Juliet to a fever ignited by their kisses.
Fever with thy flaming youth
Juliet's young and passionate nature intensifies their passion even more.
Fever I'm on fire
Their passion creates metaphoric flames, causing a strong emotional reaction.
Fever yea I burn forsooth
Romeo is consumed by his love and passion for Juliet.
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
The historical story of a captain and the daughter of a Native American chief is famous.
Had a very mad affair
Their relationship was a tumultuous and emotionally-driven romance.
When her daddy tried to kill him
Pocahontas' father was not supportive of their relationship and even resorted to violence.
She said "Daddy, oh don't you dare"
Pocahontas defended Captain Smith against her father, unwilling to let their love be destroyed.
"He gives me fever, with his kisses"
Captain Smith's kisses ignited an overwhelming passion within Pocahontas.
"Fever when he holds me tight"
Intimacy with Captain Smith created intense feelings in Pocahontas.
"Fever, I'm his missus"
Pocahontas is fully committed to Captain Smith and considers herself his wife.
"Daddy won't you treat him right?"
Pocahontas pleads with her father to be accepting and respectful of Captain Smith in their relationship.
Now you've listened to my story
The song has now shared several stories of love and passion.
Here's the point that I have made
The song's purpose was to express that love and passion, like a fever, can take hold of a person's emotions.
Chicks were born to give you fever
Women have a natural ability to create passion and physical reaction in men.
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
This feeling can be measured by different temperature scales, but it is still a fever-like sensation.
They give you fever
Women have the power to create these strong emotions in men.
When you kiss them, fever if you really learn
The passion and intensity only increases when one truly embraces and understands the power of the love and physical attraction.
Fever till you sizzle
This passion can become so hot, it feels like one is sizzling with desire.
What a lovely way to burn
Despite any difficulties or challenges, experiencing such passionate love is a beautiful and worthwhile thing.
What a lovely way to burn
Repeating the final line emphasizes the point that love, despite its intensity, is a beautiful thing.
What a lovely way to burn
Repeating the final line emphasizes the point that love, despite its intensity, is a beautiful thing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Cooley, John Davenport
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)
Why Don't You Do Right - Casey Abrams - Lyrics
You had plenty money 1922
You let other women make a fool of you
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
You're sitting there wondering what it's all about
You ain't got no money, they will throw you out
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
Musical Interlude
You had plenty money 1922
You let other women make a fool of you
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too?
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?