Billie Holiday had a difficult childhood. Much information once not considered true was confirmed in the book Billie Holiday by Stuart Nicholson in 1995. Holiday's autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, which was first published in 1956, is sketchy when it comes to details about her early life, but has been confirmed by the Nicholson research.
Her professional pseudonym was taken from Billie Dove, an actress she admired, and Clarence Holiday, her probable father. At the outset of her career, she spelled her last name Halliday, which was the birth-surname of her father, but eventually changed it to Holiday, his performing name.
Her distinct delivery made Billie Holiday's performances instantly recognizable throughout her career. A master of improvisation, Billie's well-trained ear more than compensated for her lack of music education performance really was.
In 1972, Diana Ross portrayed Holiday in the film Lady Sings the Blues, which is loosely based on the 1956 autobiography of the same name. The film earned Ross a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also has been portrayed by Ernestine Jackson in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill and by Paula Jai Parker in a Season 7 episode of Touched by an Angel entitled "God Bless the Child," the title deriving from a song that she had written and sung.
In 1987, Billie Holiday was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1993, R&B singer Miki Howard released an album dedicated to Holiday titled Miki Sings Billie: A Tribute To Billie Holiday. The United States Postal Service introduced a Billie Holiday postage stamp in 1994, she ranked #6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock n' Roll in 1999, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Over the years, there have been many tributes to Billie Holiday, including "The Day Lady Died," a 1959 poem by Frank O'Hara, and "Angel of Harlem," a 1988 release by the group U2. A 1953 Holiday concert in New York is a key feature of the 2009 Arthur Phillips novel The Song is You.
On May 31, 1959, Holiday was taken to Metropolitan Hospital in New York suffering from liver and heart disease. Police officers were stationed at the door to her room. She was arrested for drug possession as she lay dying, and her hospital room was raided by authorities. Holiday remained under police guard at the hospital until she died from cirrhosis of the liver (the result of several years of substance abuse) on July 17, 1959. In the final years of her life, she had been progressively swindled out of her earnings, and she died with $0.70 in the bank and $750 (a tabloid fee) on her person. Her funeral mass was held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New York City.
Critic John Bush wrote that she "changed the art of American pop vocals forever."She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably "God Bless the Child," "Don't Explain," "Fine and Mellow," and "Lady Sings the Blues." She also became famous for singing jazz standards including "Easy Living," "Good Morning Heartache," and "Strange Fruit."
Come Rain or Come Shine
Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain and deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
Happy together, unhappy together
And won't it be fine?
Days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or we're out of the money
But I'm with you always
I'm with you rain or shine
I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain, deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
Happy together, unhappy together
And won't it be fine?
Days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or we're out of the money
But I'll love you always
I'm with you rain or shine
Rain or shine
The song "Come Rain Or Come Shine" by Billie Holiday talks about the unconditional love between two people. The lyrics convey a message of trust and loyalty, which are essential for any relationship to thrive. The singer professes her love for her partner, promising to love them like nobody ever has, irrespective of the changing circumstances, just as the title suggests.
The lines "High as a mountain and deep as a river" depict the depth of love that the singer has for her partner. The reference to weather, "Come rain or come shine," suggests that the unconditional love they share can withstand any storm or rough patch. Even though they may face difficulties and hardships, they will stay together and navigate through them.
The song's last lines "But I'll love you always, I'm with you rain or shine" is a testament to the singer's unwavering commitment to her partner. The song is an expression of enduring love that can be interpreted as a vow of forever love, promising to stay by the partner's side through both the good and the bad, "happy together, unhappy together."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you
I will give my unconditional love to you and care for you deeply.
Come rain or come shine
No matter what the circumstances are, I will always be here for you.
High as a mountain and deep as a river
My love is vast and eternal, as strong and powerful as a mountain and river.
I guess when you met me
Our meeting may seem like it was just chance or coincidence.
It was just one of those things
But it was destined to happen and meant to be.
But don't ever bet me
Don't doubt my love, because I am sincere.
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
I will always be loyal and honest if you allow me to love you.
You're gonna love me like nobody's loved me
You will give me your unconditional love and care for me deeply.
Happy together, unhappy together
We will face whatever life throws our way together, through good times and bad.
And won't it be fine?
We will overcome any hardships and come out stronger and happier than ever.
Days may be cloudy or sunny
We will face days of happiness and sorrow together.
We're in or we're out of the money
Our financial situation may fluctuate, but our love will remain constant.
But I'll love you always
My love for you will never waver or diminish.
I'm with you rain or shine
No matter what, I will always stand by your side and support you.
Rain or shine
No matter the circumstances, I am committed to loving and supporting you always.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blunted Corleone
I'm already getting my Fallout 4 supplies ready:
6 x Packs of Bacon
20 x Packs of smokes
5 x Ounces of Weed
2 x Tins of Spam
10 x Packs of rolling papers
15 x Hits of blotter acid
1 x Fully cooked chicken
3 x Bottles of whisky
1 x Bottle of Rum
1 x Brick of industrial cheese
12 x Tubes of Pringles
24 x Bags of Coffee beans
13 x Bags of Sugar
10 x Pack of Mentats
50 x Vials of Jet
5 x Boxes of Sugar bombs
16 x Tins Salisbury steak
1 x Dirty pre war business suit
And a 1 x Combat shotgun
Miranda Louise Pennington
Billie's version makes you see the whole song come to life in your mind's eye like no other vocalist's take on it can. She sounds so exquisitely effortless here. My favorite!
Cameron Roberts
I love her voice amazing
ManagerGuy1
You can't beat a Mercer lyric and melody by Arlen - lovely job of selling it by Holiday. Love it!
Bruce Marmy
it's 'round mid-night here now. Billie is worth all the love I can give
אריה וייס
One of my favrote singers of all time .she was amazing.
Benjamin David
The First Lady of Song sings a Great Harold Arlen tune. Arlen who was the most blues oriented of the first generation of Broadway tunesmiths wrote the music for the Wizard of Oz.
crowe bobby
Love her voice, but can only listen to one song at a time. It's just to rich . . . like eating truffles.
crowe bobby
"too" rich...
Pina Colada
no way, i can stuff this all day
B Maddigan
❤ ☔ ☀ love, rain or shine... :0)