He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Josephine
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
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She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks
There's a cinder in her eye
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget
Everybody says it would be wise
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean
As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
There never was a gal I could love, like I love my Josephine
She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks
There's a cinder in her eye
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget
Everybody says it would be wise
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else
I find myself dancing with tears in my eyes
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean
As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
The song "Josephine" by Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra is a tribute to a woman who the singer is hopelessly in love with, despite her flirtatious and possibly unfaithful behavior. The lyrics show that Josephine is the girl of the singer's dreams, and although he knows that he would be better off without her, he can't help but be drawn back into her seductive web each time he tries to move on. She is described as the "vampiest vamp" and it seems that everyone but the singer can see through her games. The chorus repeats the line "there never was a gal I could love, like I love my Josephine," emphasizing the singer's deep affection for her despite her flaws.
One way to interpret the song is as a cautionary tale about the power of attraction and the difficulty of breaking away from a toxic relationship. The singer knows that he is being treated badly by Josephine, but he cannot resist her charms and their emotional connection keeps pulling him back. The use of the word "mean" to describe her suggests that she may be intentionally manipulating him, but at the same time there is a sense of longing and sadness in the way the singer describes his feelings for her.
Overall, "Josephine" is a bittersweet love song that explores the complex emotions that can arise when someone falls for the wrong person. It is a reminder that love is not always rational or easy, and that sometimes we have to make difficult choices in order to protect ourselves from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
There never was a gal I could love, like I love my Josephine
I haven't loved any girl like I love Josephine
She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
Josephine is flirtatious, mischievous and the most seductive girl I have ever met
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
Josephine appears to be constantly flirting with other guys that she meets
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks, There's a cinder in her eye
When I suggest that Josephine is flirting with someone, she brushes it off and cites having an eye irritation
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget
I think it might be the best to break up with Josephine and move on
Everybody says it would be wise
Many people suggest that it would be a sensible decision
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else, I find myself dancing with tears in my eyes
Every time I try to dance with someone else, I cannot help but cry due to the memories and feelings for Josephine
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean
Josephine can be both nice and cruel at the same time, and there is no other girl like her
As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
Josephine is my girl and there is no one quite like her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PINA KOLLARS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind