Adelaide Hall (20 October 1901–7 November 1993) was an American-born Britis… Read Full Bio ↴Adelaide Hall (20 October 1901–7 November 1993) was an American-born British jazz singer and entertainer.

In 1921, an unheralded teenager named Adelaide Hall appeared as just another hoofer in the chorus line for the musical Shuffle Along. A scant seven years later, her role in the Broadway revue Blackbirds of 1928 (the most famous of the series of Blackbirds revues mounted during the 1920s and 30s) brought her international fame. Hall's stage performance in that production—in which the newcomer performed alongside a legend, tap dancer Bill "Bojangles"Robinson—attracted international media attention. It also launched the song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"—just one of the many beloved tunes that members of the public would come to associate with Adelaide Hall.

The singer also earned renown for her innovative phrasings. Her wordless singing on Duke Ellington's recording of "Creole Love Call" prefigured the scat singing later made famous by Ella Fitzgerald. (In scat singing—sometimes called mouth music—the voice is used to mimic various jazz instruments, notably the trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.) Hall went on to perform regularly with jazz greats such as Art Tatum and Fats Waller.

Hall performed at venues throughout the United States and Europe before settling in Britain. She established her own nightclubs in London and Paris, and continued to perform in European nightspots for more than 50 years.

Careless
Adelaide Hall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love was the thing that you wanted
That's why we answered loves call
Now that you've got what you wanted
You don't seem to want it at all

Careless
Now that you've got me loving you
You're careless

Careless in everything you do

You break up appointments and think you are smart
If you're not careful you'll break my heart

Careless
Now that my bridges all are burned
You're careless
Careless in things where I'm concerned

Are you just careless, as you seem to be
Or do you just care less for me?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Adelaide Hall's song "Careless" express the feelings of betrayal and being used by someone who was initially seeking love but then becomes careless when they receive it. The song discusses how the person seems to take their love for granted and doesn't fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made to attain it. Their apathetic attitude and lack of commitment to the relationship has caused the singer to question if they ever really cared about them at all.

The phrase "you break up appointments and think you are smart" highlights how the person intentionally disregards their commitments and uses it as a way to assert their power in the relationship. The line "if you're not careful you'll break my heart" emphasizes how the singer feels vulnerable and afraid that their heart will be broken by the carelessness of their partner. The bridge of the song references how the singer has burned bridges and given up everything for the person they loved, only to be met with carelessness and inconsideration.

Overall, the lyrics of "Careless" convey a sense of heartbreak and disappointment in a relationship that was once filled with promise and love. The song suggests that love can be fleeting and that it is important to appreciate and cherish it while it lasts.

CarelessAdelaide Hall Lyrics

Careless
Adelaide Hall Lyrics