When Sunny Gets Blue
Anita O’Day Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When sunny gets blue
Skies get grey and cloudy
And the rain begins to fall
Pitter patter, pitter patter
Love is gone
So what can I do
No sweet lover man comes to call
Oh when sunny gets blue
Oh when sunny gets blue
She breathes a sigh of sadness
Like the winds that sway the trees.
Winds that set the leaves a-sway
Like the violins that play
Strange and haunting melodies
Oh when sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue
When sunny gets blue

People used to love to see her laugh
And see her smile
That's how she got her name
Since that sad affair
She's lost her smile
Changed her style
Somehow she's not the same
The memories come back
And pretty dreams rise up
Where the other dreams fell through
Hurry new love, hurry here
Kiss away each lonely tear
Hold me near when
Sunny gets blue
Oh yes, when sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue




When sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue

Overall Meaning

"When Sunny Gets Blue" is a melancholic song that reflects on the emotional impact of a lost love. The lyrics use weather metaphors to describe the feelings of sadness and despair that come when the singer's love interest leaves her. The phrase "When sunny gets blue" suggests a change in the singer's mood as the skies turn grey and cloudy, symbolizing her sadness. The rain that begins to fall represents her tears, creating a pitter patter effect that mirrors her heartbreak.


The lyrics suggest that without her lover, the singer feels lost and unsure of what to do. The absence of a "sweet lover man" leaving her feeling lonely and abandoned. The repeated line emphasizes her emotional state and implies the heaviness that comes with heartbreak. The breathy sigh of sadness mirrors the singer's deep sorrow, comparing it to the winds that sway the trees. This image paints a picture of how her emotions affect her surroundings, just as the wind moves the leaves.


The lyrics also touch upon the singer's transformation after experiencing a sad affair. People used to enjoy seeing her laugh and smile, which earned her the name "Sunny." However, since the relationship ended, she has lost her smile and changed her style. The memories of the failed relationship continue to haunt her, bringing back both beautiful dreams and heartbreak. The longing for new love is evident as the singer urges it to hurry, hoping it will finally heal her pain and loneliness.


The final plea in the lyrics shows the desire for comfort and companionship. The singer asks for a new love to hold her near as a means of easing her pain, kissing away each lonely tear. This line encapsulates the emotional vulnerability and longing for connection that comes when "Sunny gets blue." The repetition of the phrase highlights the deep impact of lost love on the singer's emotions, emphasizing the recurring nature of her sadness.


Line by Line Meaning

When sunny gets blue
When her happy demeanor turns melancholic


Skies get grey and cloudy
The once clear skies become gloomy and overcast


And the rain begins to fall
As if reflecting her sadness, raindrops start to pour


Pitter patter, pitter patter
The sound of raindrops hitting the ground


Love is gone
The affection she once had is no longer present


So what can I do
She feels helpless and unsure of how to cope


No sweet lover man comes to call
There is no comforting lover by her side


Oh when sunny gets blue
Oh, when her sunny disposition turns blue


She breathes a sigh of sadness
In her sorrow, she lets out a deep sigh


Like the winds that sway the trees
Her sigh resembles the gentle movement of trees in the wind


Winds that set the leaves a-sway
The winds that cause the leaves to sway


Like the violins that play
Similar to the melancholic tunes played by violins


Strange and haunting melodies
The melodies evoke a sense of strangeness and sadness


People used to love to see her laugh
In the past, people enjoyed witnessing her joyous laughter


And see her smile
Along with her infectious smile


That's how she got her name
Her happiness became synonymous with her identity


Since that sad affair
After experiencing a distressing event


She's lost her smile
She no longer displays her radiant smile


Changed her style
Her demeanor and way of being have undergone a transformation


Somehow she's not the same
In some indescribable way, she has changed


The memories come back
Past memories resurface in her mind


And pretty dreams rise up
Nostalgic and pleasing dreams begin to emerge


Where the other dreams fell through
Contrasted to the unrealized hopes she once had


Hurry new love, hurry here
She eagerly longs for a new love to come quickly


Kiss away each lonely tear
She yearns for affection that can alleviate her sorrow


Hold me near when
She desires someone to embrace her closely


Sunny gets blue
When her sunny disposition turns melancholic


Oh yes, when sunny gets blue
Indeed, when her joyful self becomes filled with sadness


Sunny gets blue
When her happy demeanor turns melancholic


When sunny gets blue
When her sunny disposition turns melancholic




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARVIN FISHER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Tom Martin

The Lady had the somewhat unnerving habit of making everything she performed her own definitive version. That,to me, is the mark of a trancendent talent.

Stephen M. Bauer

Gosh, this is an outstanding performance

Ray Szymarek

Its been said over and over Gene Krupa heard the talent in Anitas voice and Stan Kenton knew her potential and then the three sounds the list goes on and on. Anita has left us but her voice her style and her phrasings will sustain. A god given talent like the best of them remains in the legends of vocalists. always always Anita.

Ben10r

Man, that part from 2:09 to 2:23 gets me every time!! Great improv!

Grace Black

I have just discovered this fine singer recently and I love her voice. As a singer myself can only aspire to be half as good

DottieMinerva

This music is helping me survive High School. Everytime I'm overwhelmed, all I have to do is put this on and everything is right in the world.

swinginkatz

Every thing Anita does is great.

Dubcee

Thank you Anita for making this song my father n law wrote a beautiful rendition!

pharma steve

Her vibrato... always sends shivers down my spine! For me, its devastating that nearly all my Jazz favourites have passed from this world. However this is one of the recordings keeps her memory alive.

mortygwhiz

I don't know how old this song is but I remember hearing back in the early 1960's. I loved it then when I was young and it still holds up today.

More Comments

More Versions