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.
Sweet Georgia Brown
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two left feet but oh so neat, has sweet Georgia brown
They all sigh and wanna die for sweet Georgia brown
I'll tell you why, you know I don't lie, much
Its been said she knocks em dead when she lands in town
Since she came why it's a shame how she coos em down
Fellers she can't get are fellers she ain't met
Sweet Georgia brown
The lyrics to Carmen McRae's song "Sweet Georgia Brown" beautifully encapsulate the allure and charm of a woman named Georgia Brown. The opening line "No gal made has got a shade on sweet Georgia brown" suggests that Georgia is incomparable to any other woman. Despite her own lack of rhythm and grace ("two left feet"), she is still captivating and attractive to those around her. The lyrics also imply that Georgia has a certain power over men ("They all sigh and wanna die for sweet Georgia brown"). However, the song asserts that Georgia's charm is not solely rooted in her physical attributes but in her personality and demeanor ("since she came why it's a shame how she coos em down"). The song concludes with the declaration that Georgia has won the hearts of those in her home state ("Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her, Sweet Georgia Brown").
One interesting fact about "Sweet Georgia Brown" is that the song was originally written in 1925 by Ben Bernie, Kenneth Casey and Maceo Pinkard as an instrumental jazz tune. Later that year, lyrics were added by a team of songwriters, including Pinkard, and the song became a hit. The song gained renewed popularity in the 1940s when it was adopted as the theme song for the Harlem Globetrotters. Additionally, many jazz musicians have recorded their own versions of the song, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles.
Another fascinating fact is that the lyrics of the song were controversial at times due to their usage of African American vernacular English, which was not commonly seen in mainstream pop music at the time. In particular, the line "Fellers she can't get are fellers she ain't met" was often interpreted as a reference to interracial dating or even miscegenation. Despite this controversy, the song continues to be celebrated for its upbeat tempo, catchy melody and memorable lyrics.
Lastly, while "Sweet Georgia Brown" is generally considered a jazz standard, it has also been performed in a variety of genres such as swing, blues, and even rock and roll. The song's versatility and timeless appeal continue to make it a beloved classic.
Chords (in the key of F):
Verse: F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | Gm7 C7 |
F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | C7 |
Chorus: F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | Gm7 C7 |
F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | C7 |
Bridge: E7 | A7 | Dm7 | G7 |
C7 A7 | D7 G7 | C7 A7 | D7 G7 |
Chorus: F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | Gm7 C7 |
F7 | Gm7 C7 | F7 | C7
Line by Line Meaning
No gal made has got a shade on sweet Georgia brown
There's no woman who can compare to sweet Georgia brown.
Two left feet but oh so neat, has sweet Georgia brown
Despite not being a great dancer, sweet Georgia brown is still charming and impressive.
They all sigh and wanna die for sweet Georgia brown
Many people are infatuated with sweet Georgia brown and would do anything for her.
I'll tell you why, you know I don't lie, much
I will explain why sweet Georgia brown has such an effect on people, and I rarely lie.
Its been said she knocks em dead when she lands in town
It's rumored that sweet Georgia brown causes a stir whenever she arrives in town.
Since she came why it's a shame how she coos em down
Ever since sweet Georgia brown came to town, people have been enamored by her soothing presence.
Fellers she can't get are fellers she ain't met
The only men who aren't affected by sweet Georgia brown are the ones who haven't met her yet.
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her, Sweet Georgia brown
Georgia is proud of sweet Georgia brown and gave her the name that suits her so well.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MAX LODERBAUER, PAULA SCHOPF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind