Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
Pete Kelly
Bobby Darin Lyrics
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There are bad things, the blues
When they threaten
Start betting you'll lose
You hide yourself behind a prayer
The blues'll come and they'll find you there
I mean the blues, they call Pete Kelly's Blues
There's no exit
You can try the blues
If you're born with,
You will die with the blues
Think what you choose
That happy dream is yours they say
If you can pay the dues
That's why I'm stuck with,
Fresh outta luck with the blues
There's no exit
None you can try with the blues
See if you're born with,
You gotta die with the blues
Think what you choose
That happy dream is yours they say
If you can pay the dues
That's why I'm stuck with,
So outta luck wit the blues
Some call em Pete Kelly's Blues
You can em anything you choose
I call them blues
The lyrics of Bobby Darin’s “Pete Kelly’s Blues” describe the inevitability of the blues, a feeling of sadness and despair that can strike at any moment. The first stanza of the song acknowledges the negative impact that the blues can have on an individual’s life, with the lines “There are sad things, there are bad things, the blues. When they threaten, start betting you'll lose.” The following lines describe how one may try to hide from the blues by turning to prayer, only to find that the blues have a way of finding them. The chorus of the song repeats the refrain “the blues they call Pete Kelly’s blues,” referring to a legendary jazz band leader whose name has become synonymous with the blues.
The second stanza continues to explore the theme of the blues being an inescapable part of life, with the line “there’s no exit, you can try with the blues. If you’re born with it, you will die with the blues.” The lyrics suggest that while individuals may have a choice in how they respond to the challenges of life, the blues will follow them throughout their life. The final lines of the song reinforce this message, with the repeated refrain “that’s why I’m stuck with, fresh outta luck with the blues.”
In summary, “Pete Kelly’s Blues” is a powerful song that speaks to the universal experience of sadness and despair that can befall individuals at any point in life. The song’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its timeless message about the inevitability of the blues, and its resonant interpretation of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
There are sad things
Life is full of unhappy events and situations
There are bad things, the blues
Some of the worst feelings that a person can experience are the blues
When they threaten
When these feelings start to take over
Start betting you'll lose
It's hard to win against the blues
You hide yourself behind a prayer
People often seek comfort in religion when they feel overwhelmed with sadness
The blues'll come and they'll find you there
However, even in prayer, it's hard to escape the blues
I mean the blues, they call Pete Kelly's Blues
The blues are so famous that they even have their own name - Pete Kelly's Blues
There's no exit
It's impossible to completely escape the blues or any other negative feelings
You can try the blues
Even if you try to feel happy, sometimes the blues come anyways
If you're born with,
Sometimes, it seems as though people are just predisposed to feeling the blues
You will die with the blues
Once you have the blues, it's a lifelong struggle to keep them at bay
Think what you choose
Whatever you believe, the blues will still be there
That happy dream is yours they say
Some people think that if you're optimistic and work hard, you'll always be happy
If you can pay the dues
However, this isn't always true, and sometimes you still have to face the blues even if you've done everything right
That's why I'm stuck with,
This is why I am constantly struggling with
Fresh outta luck with the blues
I am never able to find relief from the blues, no matter what I do
None you can try with the blues
There is no way out of feeling the blues
See if you're born with,
Some people are just born with an inherent sadness that they carry throughout their lives
So outta luck wit the blues
These people are always struggling and don't seem to have any luck in trying to overcome their sadness
Some call em Pete Kelly's Blues
Although these feelings are universal, some people have given them a name to make them seem less daunting
You can em anything you choose
People can call these feelings whatever they want, but at the end of the day, they are still difficult to bear
I call them blues
Personally, I refer to these feelings as the blues
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMMY CAHN, RAY HEINDORF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel
on Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
One heck of a entertainer. A life cut way to soon. RIP Mr. Darin. Remember one thing he was one of the first Emmy winners, in the late 50s. When the emmys started.