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.
Them There Eyes
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was a beautiful song
Didn't have a care nor worry
Then you had to come along
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle, they bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
Maybe you think I'm all lies
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
Them there eyes
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
In the lyrics of Carmen McRae's "Them There Eyes," the singer describes how their life was lovely and free from any trouble but how everything changed when they met someone who captured their heart. The singer fell in love with this person the first time they looked into their cute flirtatious eyes. The eyes of the person they love have the power to make them happy or sad. They also warn the person they love to be cautious of their eyes as they are overworking them, and there is danger lurking in them. The lyrics describe the addictive and dangerous nature of falling in love, highlighting the overwhelming effect that another person's gaze can have on one's heart and mind.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just minding my business
I was not looking for love or anything else, just living my life.
Life was a beautiful song
Everything was perfect, life was beautiful and I had nothing to complain about.
Didn't have a care nor worry
There was nothing to worry about, and I was living carefree.
Then you had to come along
Suddenly, you appeared in my life and changed everything.
I fell in love with you first time
I immediately fell in love with you from the very first time we met.
I looked into them there eyes
It was your eyes that made me fall in love with you, they were so captivating.
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
You have a unique and charming way of flirting.
With them there eyes
It's all in the eyes; that's how you flirt and captivate me.
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
Your eyes can evoke so many different emotions in me: from pure joy to sadness.
No stallin'
I can't deny my feelings, I cannot stall.
I'm fallin'
I am falling deeply in love with you.
Going in a big way for sweet little you
I am deeply and passionately in love with you.
My heart is jumpin'
My heart is racing with excitement and love for you.
You sure started somethin'
You ignited a spark in me that I cannot ignore.
You'd better watch them if you're wise
You must be careful with your eyes and how you use them to ensnare hearts.
They sparkle, they bubble
Your eyes are full of life, they sparkle and shine, and they are also lively and engaging.
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
Your eyes are so powerful that they can lead you into tricky situations.
You're overworkin' 'em
You are using your eyes to their fullest potential.
There's danger lurkin' in
Your eyes can be dangerous and can lead you to fall in love or even worse.
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
You may think that I am only playfully flirting with you and not truly in love.
Maybe you think I'm all lies
You may think that I am not being truthful with you and that I am only leading you on.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind