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."
Me Myself And I
Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are all in love with you
We all think you're wonderful
We do
Me, myself and I
Have just one point of view
We're convinced
It can't be denied dear
You brought the sun to us
We'd be satisfied dear
If you, you'd belong to one of us
So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
Me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
We all think you're wonderful
We do
Me, myself and I
Have just one point of view
We're convinced
There's no one else like you
It can't be denied dear
You brought the sun to us
We'd be satisfied dear
If you'd belong to one of us
So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
In Billie Holiday's song "Me Myself and I", she sings about how she, herself, and her ego are all in love with an individual. The lyrics suggest a sense of desperation as they all believe that there is no one else like this person. They feel a deep admiration for them, considering them a source of light and happiness. The line "It can't be denied dear" indicates the certainty of the trio's admiration for this individual. They would be content if the person belonged to just one of them. However, even the slightest possibility of the person passing by without noticing them will result in "three hearts" being broken.
This song stresses the inner conflicts in Holiday's feelings. She sings as three different individuals, each struggling to unite their love into one voice. However, the person they dedicate this love to does not have any knowledge of it. The phrase "Me Myself and I" takes on a new meaning, as it refers to the different levels of self-awareness that we experience in our emotions. In this song, each of these selves is a fundamental part of a person's psychological constitution.
Line by Line Meaning
Me, myself and I
The singer is referring to herself and her individual personalities
Are all in love with you
All of the personalities within herself are deeply and truly in love with the person she is addressing
We all think you're wonderful
The personalities within her all agree that the person she is addressing is wonderful
We do
In fact, they don't just think it, but they believe it strongly and deeply
Have just one point of view
All of the personalities within her have a singular viewpoint that agrees with each other
We're convinced
They are completely certain and without doubt about their admiration for the person she is addressing
There's no one else like you
According to the singer and her various personalities, the person she is addressing is completely unique and irreplaceable
It can't be denied dear
The fact that they believe this is so strong, it cannot be ignored
You brought the sun to us
The person she is addressing has brought an immense amount of joy and happiness into their lives
We'd be satisfied dear
The personalities within her would be content if the person she is addressing were to belong to just one of them
If you'd belong to one of us
They are willing to share the love they feel for this person amongst themselves
So if you pass me by
If the person she is addressing were to ignore her or not reciprocate her feelings
Three hearts will break in two
Each of her personalities will feel heartbroken and distraught over the rejection
Cause me, myself and I
The singer and her various personalities will all share in the heartbreak and pain
Are all in love with you
Their feelings for the person she is addressing are all-encompassing and deep
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: CHRIS LINDSEY, JIVE, DAVID KATZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ape2reginaforse504
Me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
We all think you're wonderful
We do
Me, myself and I
Have just one point of view
We're convinced there's no one else like you
It can't be denied, dear
You've brought the sun to us
We'd be satisfied, dear
If you'd belong to one of us
So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
'Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
Me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
We all think you're wonderful
We do
Me, myself and I
Have just one point of view
We're convinced there's no one else like you
It can't be denied, dear
You brought the sun to us
We'd be satisfied, dear
If you'd belong to one of us
So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
'Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
@michaeltibbs9875
This is my favorite Billie and Pres recording! What a brilliant performance!
@zocam14
Oh lovely lady! I am young as well and I totally agree! I am turning 21 this year. I love this style/type of music and especially her.... I first really got into this music when one of my favorite video game " Fallout 3" Soundtrack has her on it and numerous artist just as great like Danny Kaye or Cole Porter.....
@reneematte8426
Merci Lady Day et amis musiciens ¸.•'**☆ 🎹🎹☀ 🎸🎤 Me, "Myself and I (Take 2)
Artiste
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra."
@reneematte8426
Merci purpleOaccident via LadyDay ♥️🎼🎶🎤
@abouteverything2654
Love you Billie Holiday, Thank you for the framed picture you gave me when i met you. Still have it.
@melissa5223
Happy 100th, Lady Day!
@PaulUbanaJones
Stripped down! and Brilliant!!
@charlettaw4664
I may be young; but I still know great music when I hear it <3 She's amazing!
@kellyyoung2947
Wow this is the first time I've literally understood how they describe her singing behind the beat. I caught it and my god her sense of time is truly like she metronome!!!
@MorrisB3
Billie Holiday. ❤️ "Me, Myself and I are all in love with you. We all think you're wonderful. We do."