Billy Stewart began singing publicly with his mother's group, the Stewart Gospel Singers, as a teenager. He made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for the Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by future soul star Don Covay. It was also through the Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, a very young Marvin Gaye. Seminal rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians. This led to a recording contract with Bo Diddley's label, Chess Records, and Bo Diddley played guitar on Stewart's 1956 recording of "Billy's Blues". Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded "Billy's Heartache" backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which was now featuring Marvin Gaye.
Back at Chess in the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis. He cut a song called "Fat Boy". Showing additional promise with his recordings of "Reap What You Sow" and "Strange Feeling", major chart success was not far away. Stewart hit both the pop and R&B charts big in 1965 with the songs, โI Do Love Youโ and โSitting in the Park.โ His improvisational technique of doubling-up, scatting his words and trilling his lips made his style unique in the 1960s.
In 1966, wishing to appeal to a wider audience, Stewart recorded the LP "Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks" in 1966. The first single released from that album was Billy's radical stand-out interpretation of the George Gershwin classic "Summertime", a top ten hit on both the pop and R&B charts in 1966. The follow-up single was Billy's remake of the Doris Day hit "Secret Love", which just missed the top ten on the R&B chart.
While Stewart continued to record throughout the remainder of the 1960s, his weight problem worsened and he developed diabetes. He also suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle accident in 1969. His life was tragically cut short on January 17, 1970, just 2 months prior to his 33rd birthday, when the car he was driving plunged into the Neuse River in North Carolina, killing him and three members of his band.
Billy Stewart was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame in 1982.
Summertime
Billy Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chuck a-chuck-chuck (huh yeah)
A-summertime
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin, don't you know my darling, I said a-right now
And the cotton is high
Like-a like-a like-a you're daddy's rich
And your mommy's good-lookin', yeah
One of these, one of these, one of these mornings, darlin'
You're gonna rise, you're gonna rise up singin'
Then you'll spread your little wings, your little wings
And-a take to the ska-da-da-da-dy
Brr, until-a that mornin'
There's nothin' gonna harm you, girl
With Mommy and Daddy standing by, yeah
Pretty little darlin', I said, a-right now
Don't let a tear, don't let a tear, don't let a tear
Little darlin', I said, fall a-from your eyes
So hush, pretty baby
Do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-on't
You-ooo
Brr, uck
Chuck a-chuck-chuck
Little darlin' do not let a tear fall-a from your ey-ey-ey-ey-eye
Whoa
In Billy Stewart's song Summertime, the opening verse sets the scene of a peaceful and carefree summer day. The singer mentions the fish jumping and the cotton being high, indicating that nature is thriving during this season. He then addresses a child, reassuring them that they don't need to cry because their parents are wealthy and beautiful. The next verse is more optimistic, suggesting that the child will grow up and pursue their dreams one day. This sense of hope is amplified by the use of soaring melody and the lyrics about spreading one's wings. The refrain "Don't let a tear fall from your eyes" is repeated throughout the song, offering continuous comfort to the child.
Line by Line Meaning
Brr, uck
Expressing a shiver or a feeling of coldness
Chuck a-chuck-chuck (huh yeah)
Onomatopoeic sound effect indicating a rhythmic beat or musical instrument being played
A-summertime
Referring to summer season
And the livin' is easy
Describing the relaxed and comfortable lifestyle of summer months
Fish are jumpin', don't you know my darling, I said a-right now
Observing the lively and active behavior of fish during summer season
And the cotton is high
Noticing the height and growth of cotton crops during summer
Like-a like-a like-a you're daddy's rich
Comparing someone's wealth or status to that of a rich father
And your mommy's good-lookin', yeah
Complimenting someone's mother on her physical appearance
So hush, pretty little baby, don't you cry
Urging a child to be quiet and stop crying, possibly indicating a comforting presence nearby
One of these, one of these, one of these mornings, darlin'
Speaking of a future moment in time, perhaps with anticipation or excitement
You're gonna rise, you're gonna rise up singin'
Expecting someone to wake up feeling confident, happy, and ready to sing
Then you'll spread your little wings, your little wings
Encouraging someone to use their creativity or imagination
And-a take to the ska-da-da-da-dy
Unknown, possibly indicating doing something fun or carefree
Brr, until-a that mornin'
Echoing the coldness felt earlier, possibly as a contrast to the warmth and light of morning
There's nothin' gonna harm you, girl
Reassuring someone of their safety and well-being, possibly as a protector or parent figure
With Mommy and Daddy standing by, yeah
Reiterating the presence of parental figures nearby, reinforcing the idea of safety and support
Pretty little darlin', I said, a-right now
Using a term of endearment to address someone, possibly indicating affection or familiarity
Don't let a tear, don't let a tear, don't let a tear
Urging someone to refrain from crying, perhaps out of concern or empathy
Little darlin', I said, fall a-from your eyes
Asking someone not to cry, possibly with the intention of preventing sadness or worry
So hush, pretty baby
Using similar terms of endearment to comfort someone, reinforcing the idea of closeness or intimacy
Do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-on't
Extending and emphasizing the word 'don't,' possibly to convey a sense of urgency or importance
You-ooo
Drawing out the word 'you,' possibly for vocal effect or to emphasize the importance of the listener
Brr, uck
Reiterating the original coldness, possibly to bookend the song or indicate the end of the story
Whoa
Unknown, possibly indicating a sense of surprise or awe
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Heyward, Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marc Pope
How many times can I listen to this song back to back and back again?? Not enough so far...
Noomz-of-Earl
Already a Billy Stewart fan from his big hit the previous summer ("Sitting in the Park"/1965), I jumped right on this unique and dynamic Chess 45. I later heard the unedited LP version but didn't find that it delivered the same wallop as this one.
J Horton
Yes. The tempo of the LP version is noticeably slower. I honestly can't tell if this is a different performance or if they just speeded up the tape a bit to cut this version. Whichever it is, it works! This is 2:38 of pure excellence.
Noomz-of-Earl
@J Horton- I've always thought it was from the same performance but with some of the jazz flourishes removed. Someone sensed major pop potential here, and the sound engineering/editing processes were superbly executed to this end.
Noomz-of-Earl
@J Horton - I just heard the 1953 hit single "Marie" by The Four Tunes [#2 R&B/#13 pop] and don't think there's any doubt that Billy was inspired by that record to do his own eerily similar-sounding scat trilling on "Summertime."
Raymond Malcuit
This Song Went To Number 10 On The Billboard Hot-100 Chart In 1966.
patrick ryan
Deservedly so.
Oliver Washburn
Uber-original take on a classic. I imagine you either love it or hate it; put me in group #1.
wmbrown6
Look, this is my favorite of all the versions of this standard, so definitely group #1 for me.
J Horton
Me too. Even my mom, who loved "Porgy and Bess" and could be a music snob at times, enjoyed this version. And Janis Joplin's.