Chris joined the "Snowflakes", a vocal group of Claude Thornhill's band, and moved on to become Stan Kenton's lead singer. She recorded for Bethlehem records originally and then began a long association with Atlantic records. Her trademark songs are well known to most people familiar with jazz of the 50s and 60s; among them are "Lullaby of Birdland" and "All about Ronnie."
More-complete bio and discography: http://www.mrlucky.com/songbirds/html/jul99/c_cconnor.html
A good obituary can be found on http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/sep/02/chris-connor-obituary
Blame It On My Youth
Chris Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If only just for you, I did exist, blame it on my youth
I believed in everything
Like a child of three
You meant more than anything
You meant all the world to me
If, you were on my mind, all night and day, blame it on my youth
If I cried a little bit, when first I learned the truth
Don't blame it on my heart, blame it on my youth
Chris Connor's song "Blame it On My Youth" is a melancholic confession of a love that was too naïve and trusting. The lyrics speak to the innocence of youth and how it can blindly give into love, believing in it wholeheartedly without reservation. The tone of the song is pensive, and the lyrics suggest that their love was not meant to be, but it was not because of malice or neglect. Rather, it was a consequence of youth and its inexperience in the complex nature of love.
The opening lines of the song refer to the believer's expectation when they first kissed, stating that they should blame their youth for their belief in love at first sight. The following line declares that the believer existed purely for the other person. The second verse suggests that the believer has convinced themselves that their love was more powerful because they believed in everything, much like a child of three.
The chorus is the most significant part of the song. It confesses how the love consumed the believer, causing them to forget important things like eating, sleeping, and even praying. The last line of the chorus is particularly poignant, as it signals the acceptance of the eventual end of the relationship. In the final verse, the believer admits to having cried when they learned the truth, but they ask that instead of accusing their heart, they blame their youth.
Line by Line Meaning
If, I expected love, when first we kissed, blame it on my youth
I was naive and inexperienced, and I thought that kissing meant love. If I made that mistake, it's because I was young.
If only just for you, I did exist, blame it on my youth
I was so infatuated with you that I didn't care about anything else. If I seemed irresponsible or foolish, it's because I was young.
I believed in everything
When I was young, I was gullible and willing to trust anyone or anything.
Like a child of three
My level of understanding was similar to that of a small child.
You meant more than anything
You were the most important thing in my life at that time.
You meant all the world to me
You were my entire world, and I couldn't imagine life without you.
If, you were on my mind, all night and day, blame it on my youth
I was so obsessed with you that you were the only thing I could think about. If that seemed like an unhealthy level of attachment, it's because I was young and didn't know any better.
If, I forgot to eat, and sleep and pray, blame it on my youth
I was so consumed by my love for you that I neglected my basic needs. If I seemed unbalanced or irrational, it's because I was young and didn't have the wisdom to know better.
If I cried a little bit, when first I learned the truth
When I discovered that you didn't feel the same way about me, I was devastated. If I seemed overly emotional or heartbroken, it's because I was young and didn't have the emotional tools to cope with rejection.
Don't blame it on my heart, blame it on my youth
If my emotions seemed out of control, it's not because there's anything wrong with my heart. I was just young and still learning how to navigate the complexities of love and relationships.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Edward Heyman, Oscar Levant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
villagevicarage
Oh MY GOODNESS! Chris Connor, Keely Smith, Dakota Station - all of these wonderful angels of song, it's heartbreaking that so many young aspiring gifted singers have never heard these voices and compositions. Just imagine how trends might change! I read that Taylor Swift attributed some of her 'gift' to those voices of the past. Well done! There's some wonderful raw talent posting on YT presently and I hope they hear some of these artists as well!
StripeRich
It's "Dakota Staton" not Station.
Michael Grandinetti
Conner's voice makes time stand still. She is the voice of Film Noir.
bbcisrubbish
Perfection, voice, orchestration and accompaniment.
Jill Stern
Love her rendition!
Paul Harrison
Perfection....... Great song.... Great vocals.....
Carol Wallace
Still wonderful
Ruth Hildenbrandt
very very good. thanks.
Don Skoller
What a triumvirate
-O'Day, Christy, and Connor (Anita, June and Chris) -and each took turns being the best of the bunch. Which along with Billie and Sarah added up to best evers. Chris had some off years but came "roaring" back as a grand old swinging lady. And thanks for this terrific "archive".Atok Suharto
CHRIS CONNOR ❤❤❤❤❤