McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
Day In Day Out
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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It had me low, and it had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
The British Museum, had lost it's charm
How long I wondered, could this thing last
But the age of miracles, it hadn't past
And suddenly, I saw you standing right there
In "A Foggy Day in London Town," Carmen McRae describes a gloomy morning in London. She feels down and uninterested even in visiting the British Museum, which is one of the famous attractions of the city. She expresses her concern about how long the dismal weather will last, but then unexpectedly, she sees someone she knows. This person brings joy and brightness to her day, to the point that she sees the sun shining on London town, despite the foggy weather.
The song's message speaks about how the right person's presence can change one's outlook and make everything better. The lyrics have a metaphorical aspect, where the fog represents feeling lost, and the sun breaking the clouds represents finding hope and a bright outlook. The song uses this imagery to show that in any given day, even in grey weather, a person can bring joy and make bright what may appear dark.
Line by Line Meaning
A foggy day, in London town
The city was engulfed in fog, making everything difficult and unclear.
It had me low, and it had me down
The fog brought her mood down and made her feel depressed.
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
She felt uneasy and worried about how the day might turn out because of the poor visibility caused by the fog.
The British Museum, had lost it's charm
Even a famous and historically significant place like the British Museum lost its appeal because of the unpleasant weather conditions.
How long I wondered, could this thing last
She wondered how much longer the fog would persist and make life difficult.
But the age of miracles, it hadn't past
In spite of the difficult situation, there is always hope for things to get better and for good things to happen.
And suddenly, I saw you standing right there
Meeting somebody special can be a pleasant surprise, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
And in foggy London town, the sun was shining everywhere
Even though the fog made it hard to see, the presence of someone special brought warmth and made the city brighter and more cheerful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind