Robert Waltrip "Bobby" Short (September 15, 1924 – March 21, 2005) was an A… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Waltrip "Bobby" Short (September 15, 1924 – March 21, 2005) was an American cabaret singer and pianist, best known for his interpretations of songs by popular composers of the first half of the 20th century such as Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Noël Coward and George and Ira Gershwin.
He also championed African-American composers of the same period such as Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, presenting their work not in a polemical way, but as simply the obvious equal of that of their white contemporaries.
His dedication to his great love – what he called the "Great American Song" – left him equally adept at performing the witty lyrics of Bessie Smith's "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" or Gershwin and Duke's "I Can't Get Started." Short stated his favorite songwriters were Ellington, Arlen and Kern, and he was instrumental in spearheading the construction of the Ellington Memorial in New York City.

He was born in Danville, Illinois, United States, where one of his school classmates was Dick Van Dyke. He began performing as a busker after leaving home at the age of eleven for Chicago, with his mother's permission.
He started working in clubs in the 1940s. In 1968 he was offered a two-week stint at the Café Carlyle in New York City, to fill in for George Feyer. Short (accompanied by Beverly Peer on bass and Dick Sheridan on drums) became an institution at the Carlyle, as Feyer had been before him, and remained there as a featured performer for over 35 years. There, a combination of traits – his seemingly effortless elegance; his vocal phrasing (perfected, as was that of Frank Sinatra, at the feet of Miss Mabel Mercer, with perhaps also some help from Ethel Waters); his talent for presenting unknown songs worth knowing while keeping well known songs fresh; his infectious good cheer; and his resolute, self-disciplined professionalism – earned him great respect and made him tremendously popular. Bobby Short was generous with his impromptu all-night performances at his various favorite cafes and restaurants. He was a regular patron at Ted Hook's Backstage, located at Eighth Avenue and Forty-Fifth Street.

1972: Short sings theme song in James Ivory's film Savages.
1976: Short sings and appears in a commercial for Revlon's perfume "Charlie."
1985: Short sings and appears in the beginning portion of the Misfits of Science theme song.
1986: Short appears in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. Then Allen used his recording "I Happen To Like New York" for opening title of Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).
1991: Short stars as blues musician Ches Collins on the TV series In the Heat of the Night in which he sings the title track, Sweet, Sweet Blues.
1994: Short reprises his role as blues musician Ches Collins on the TV series In the Heat of the Night.
1999: Short appears in the Movie "Man of the Century"
2000: The Library of Congress designates Short a Living Legend, a recognition established as part of its bicentennial celebration.
2003: Short sings and plays piano in at least one episode of 7th Heaven on TV.
2004: Short announces he will end his regular appearances at the Café Carlyle by the end of the year, in favor of touring, traveling and spending time with friends.
2005: Short dies of leukemia at New York Presbyterian Hospital on March 21, 2005, aged 80 and is buried in Atherton Cemetery in Danville, Illinois, the city of his birth.

Nina
Bobby Short Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I arrive in any town
I look the ladies up and down
And when I've picked my favorite flame
This is my patter, no matter her name

Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina
Fascinating Nina
What a lovely child

Nina, you enchant me
Nina, you're so sweet
I mean yuh fairly drive me wild

Nina, till the moment you hit my heart
Nina, I was doin' just fine
But since I've seen yuh
Nina, Nina, Nina
I'll be having neurasthenia
Till I make yuh mine!

Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina
You're the bright gardenia
Of the Spanish Main
Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina
Don't be so enticing
Or I'll go insane

Nina, till alas I gazed in your eyes
Nina, I was mentally fine
But since I've seen yah
Nina, Nina, Nina
I'll be havin' schizophrenia
Till I make yah

Till I make yah
Till I make yah mine

Overall Meaning

The singer of this song, "Nina," is expressing his infatuation towards a woman named Nina. He sings about how he travels to different towns and picks out his favorite woman, who he refers to as his "flame". However, Nina has caught his attention and he is completely smitten with her. He describes her as "fascinating" and "enchanting," and even though he was doing just fine before he met her, he now feels as though he's going crazy with longing for her. The singer uses a variety of medical terms like "neurasthenia" and "schizophrenia" to emphasize just how much Nina has affected him.

The song's lyrics are relatively straightforward, with the singer clearly expressing his attraction towards Nina. However, the use of medical terms adds an interesting layer to the song. It suggests that the singer's infatuation has transcended the bounds of normalcy and has become almost clinical in nature. Additionally, the use of terms like "neurasthenia" (a condition that was popularized in the 19th century and typically referred to a state of mental exhaustion) and "schizophrenia" (a serious mental disorder) adds a slightly darker element to the otherwise upbeat song.

Line by Line Meaning

When I arrive in any town
Whenever I arrive at a new place,

I look the ladies up and down
I observe all the women present,

And when I've picked my favorite flame
Once I have chosen the woman I desire the most,

This is my patter, no matter her name
I use the same sweet talk, regardless of her name or identity

Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina
Oh Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina,

Fascinating Nina
You are such an interesting woman,

What a lovely child
You are so wonderful and attractive,

Nina, you enchant me
You have bewitched me, Nina,

Nina, you're so sweet
You are so sweet, Nina,

I mean yuh fairly drive me wild
You make me feel insane with desire, Nina

Nina, till the moment you hit my heart
Until the moment you entered my life and stole my heart,