Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.

… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.

Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.

After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.

Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City

My Attorney Bernie
Blossom Dearie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm impressed
With my attorney Bernie
I'm impressed
With his influential friends

He's got very big connections
And I follow his directions
Bernie knows his way around

And so I always do what Bernie recommends

I am blessed
With my attorney Bernie
I'm impressed
With the way he runs the store

He's got Dodger season boxes
And an office full of foxes
It's amazing all the different things
Your average guy might need a lawyer for

Bernie tells me what to do
Bernie lays it on the line
Bernie says, we sue, we sue
Bernie says, we sign, we sign

I'm in touch
With my attorney Bernie
In a clutch
He can speed right to the scene

And if I'm locked up in the jail
With just one phone call for my bail
He said to call his club collect
Or deal directly with his answering machine

And when I dine
With my attorney Bernie
He buys wine
From the rare imported rack

That's 'cause Bernie is a purist
And not your polyester tourist
Bernie waves the glass around awhile
Then takes a sip and always sends it back

Bernie tells me what to do
Bernie lays it on the line
Bernie says, we sue, we sue
Bernie says, we sign, we sign

I admire
My attorney Bernie
I admire
Any guy who knows his stuff

Sure we blew a couple ventures
With a counterfeit debentures
But you win a few, you lose a few
Like Bernie says, "You keep on hanging tough"

Thanks to you
My attorney Bernie
Thanks to you
I'm considered well to do

Sure I made out like a bandit
Just exactly like you planned it
But like Murray, my accountant
Told me yesterday, I owe it all to you.

Bernie tells me what to do
Bernie lays it on the line
Bernie says, we sue, we sue
Bernie says, we sign, we sign

On the dotted line

Overall Meaning

In "My Attorney Bernie," Blossom Dearie sings the praises of her attorney, Bernie, whom she admires for his influential connections, his ability to run a successful legal practice, and his efficiency in responding to her legal emergencies. She's grateful for his guidance and directions, even if it means following his instructions to sue or sign on the dotted line. She's also impressed by his knowledge of wine and his penchant for buying rare, imported bottles, which he inspects and often sends back, demonstrating his discerning taste.

The lyrics of "My Attorney Bernie" portray a humorous and exaggerated perspective of the legal system and the role of lawyers, poking fun at the idea that many people rely on attorneys to get them out of tricky situations or secure their financial success. The song's upbeat tempo and jazzy style add to its lighthearted feel, making it a playful ode to a beloved attorney.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm impressed
I am amazed by what I see

With my attorney Bernie
I am particularly amazed by Bernie, my legal representative

I'm impressed
I am amazed by what I see

With his influential friends
Bernie has very important friends

He's got very big connections
He has strong relationships that can help in different situations

And I follow his directions
I do what Bernie tells me since I trust him

Bernie knows his way around
Bernie is experienced and skilled in his work

And so I always do what Bernie recommends
I listen to Bernie's advice since I believe he always knows best

I am blessed
I am fortunate

With my attorney Bernie
Bernie has been a great addition to my life

I'm impressed
I am amazed by what I see

With the way he runs the store
I am amazed by how well Bernie conducts his affairs

He's got Dodger season boxes
Bernie has seats for the LA Dodgers baseball team

And an office full of foxes
Bernie's office has many beautiful women

It's amazing all the different things
There are many legal matters people need a lawyer for which I find surprising

Your average guy might need a lawyer for
The services provided by a lawyer are very diverse

Bernie tells me what to do
Bernie gives me instructions

Bernie lays it on the line
Bernie is straightforward with what he says

Bernie says, we sue, we sue
Bernie suggests taking legal action

Bernie says, we sign, we sign
Bernie suggests signing legal documents

I'm in touch
I am in communication

With my attorney Bernie
I am in contact with Bernie

In a clutch
in a difficult situation

He can speed right to the scene
Bernie is very responsive and can manage emergencies quickly

And if I'm locked up in the jail
If I am incarcerated

With just one phone call for my bail
Bernie can arrange bail with just a single phone call

He said to call his club collect
Bernie suggests that I make a collect call to get in touch

Or deal directly with his answering machine
I can also leave a message on his answering machine

And when I dine
When I eat

With my attorney Bernie
When I have dinner with Bernie

He buys wine
Bernie purchases wine

From the rare imported rack
He chooses from exclusive imported wine selection

That's 'cause Bernie is a purist
Bernie has exclusive tastes

And not your polyester tourist
He is not like ordinary vacationers

Bernie waves the glass around awhile
Bernie swirls the wine in his glass

Then takes a sip and always sends it back
Bernie tastes the wine and if he doesn't like it, he sends it back

I admire
I appreciate and respect

My attorney Bernie
Bernie who is my legal representative

I admire
I appreciate and respect

Any guy who knows his stuff
I have respect for anyone who is good at their job

Sure we blew a couple ventures
We have failed in a few businesses

With counterfeit debentures
we have printed illegitimate vouchers

But you win a few, you lose a few
sometimes you win and other times you lose

Like Bernie says, "You keep on hanging tough"
As Bernie advises, we should stay strong even when things are not going as planned

Thanks to you
As a result of all you have done

My attorney Bernie
Bernie who is my legal representative

Thanks to you
As a result of all you have done

I'm considered well to do
I am seen as wealthy

Sure I made out like a bandit
I have made a lot of money

Just exactly like you planned it
The results are according to your plan

But like Murray, my accountant
Just like Murray, my accountant

Told me yesterday, I owe it all to you.
explained that all the wealth is thanks to you.

On the dotted line
When signing a contract

Contributed by Gabriel R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

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Comments from YouTube:

@BrandmadeTv

2y↑9

Great song !!!! Frishberg (RIP) wrote BOTH words/music. Check out his live version on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (circa 1983). On YouTube.

@flabbybum9562

2y↑4

So subtle and nuanced. What a wonderful artist.

@1RRPilot

2y↑3

We need more like Blossom Dearie.

@annefisher219

5y↑8

I love this song - I have a sleazy lawyer I am doing a project on and this is the perfect song for it.

@ocnoreen

13y↑1

They both sang it great. Dave wrote the lyric! How true can it get? Love Blossom and Dave.

@sendhelp444

12y↑4

my wife is a partner at a white-shoe firm, and I played it at lunch for some of the old sharks she works with and none of them had heard it before! I miss you so, Blossom...

@richdallmeyer9616

Combine a Precise, Clear voice with Dynamite lyrics and you get a Great performance.

@NunzioAdorato

10y↑11

Frishberg wrote the lyrics AND the music. This is not to take away from Blossom Dearie. MY ATTORNEY BERNIE 1983 Words and music: Dave Frishberg for Tim Brown's party in Mpls

@50CJAZZ

8y↑3

Pretty sure Bob Dorough wrote the tune. Dave Frishberg wrote the lyrics. No?

@50CJAZZ

8y↑4

You're right! 'I'm Hip' was Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg. Cool. Wow!!!

@PeterBrownPianist

10y↑4

R.I.P. Blossom. Your place in posterity is assured.

@nemo227

2y↑3

I bought Frishberg's CD at a record store in Carmel, CA about 30 years ago. Loaned it to my doctor who's wife and son are both attorneys. Never got it back but that's okay, I can afford another one. My doctor is gone, however, and I miss him. He had been my doctor since the fifties. Tomorrow I'll make my first visit to my new doctor. Meanwhile, I am looking for a good attorney. It might be a "plus" if I can find one named Bernie . . .

@mikegalvin9801

33w↑1

Getting to the age where our doctors are retiring unfortunately. I'll see and raise you with the fact that my primary was not only with me for thirty years but his mom was once my pediatrician.

@nemo227

33w

@@mikegalvin9801 You pediatrician wins. I have no idea whether or not I even had a pediatrician. So, I guess now I owe you a beer.😐

@mikegalvin9801

33w

I've heard this song over the years but it just hit me (well duh) that her accountant mentions all her money has ended up with Bernie.

@davidzumpe3239

4y↑1

Scott have heard the song My attorney bernie sung blossom dearie. Great song think you'd find it humorous. Love your show.

@Aramanth

Today is November 4th: Love Your Lawyer Day!
So I am celebrating with Blossom's ode to Bernie.
💼♥

@martinechannon

8y↑7

Bernie and Blossom…what could be better :)

@nukem23

8y↑6

Awesome Dearie...

@foxnaif

13y↑3

Best version, I reckon

@tsherarts

12y↑2

Finished doing up our wills yesterday and LaVona emerged from Atty Donohue's office singing this.

@MrBrifor

13y↑4

Blossom was quoted as saying something like: Dave wrote it, but I'm the one who made it famous! There is another recording by a Swedish singer, Connie Evingson, which compares really favorably with Blossom's version - if you like Blossom's rendition, you'll also like Connie's.

@robertw7830

25w

Beautiful Mark

@gh1235

4y↑2

I will remix this and reupload it in a month

@bowtoyoursensei554

9y↑1

BlossoM Dearie. But thank you for posting this!

@MsDft123

13y↑3

this is awsome done by a female

@julietspaghetti

4y↑1

Bernie says we sign, we sign on the dotted line.

@ZbigBF

9y↑3

...the dotted line... good band name...

@judypokras3048

31w

Let’s write new lyrics for this, making it about the wonderful Bernie Sanders!!!

@MrBrifor

13y↑1

@MrBrifor Correction on that post. Connie is an American and she is a fairly young contemporary singer.

@BielerLiz

12y↑1

I agree.

@fisherroastedpeanut

5y↑2

we sign

ON THE DOTTED LINE

@clarkewi

6y↑2

Brilliant. Love her voice and piano but she can't write a song to save her life. This and "I'm Hip" are Dave Frishberg creations.

@ArthurKaletzky

4y↑1

Blossom did write Byebye Country Boy, with a completely different vibe to Dave 's sarcasm. Or is it that a woman's sarcasm is different? No, don't think so - Billie Holliday's and Bonnie Raitt's has the flavour as Dave's.

@williammadden6385

4y↑2

Most clueless comment I have ever read on YouTube.

BTW: Susannah McCorkle also does a nice version. Her more robust voice gives the lyrics a different impact. (McCorkle was a huge fan of Dearie.)

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