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
When Sunny Gets Blue
Chris Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skies get grey and cloudy
And the rain begins to fall
Pitter patter, pitter patter
Love is gone
So what can I do
No sweet lover man comes to call
Oh when sunny gets blue
She breathes a sigh of sadness
Like the winds that sway the trees.
Winds that set the leaves a-sway
Like the violins that play
Strange and haunting melodies
Oh when sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue
When sunny gets blue
People used to love to see her laugh
And see her smile
That's how she got her name
Since that sad affair
She's lost her smile
Changed her style
Somehow she's not the same
The memories come back
And pretty dreams rise up
Where the other dreams fell through
Hurry new love, hurry here
Kiss away each lonely tear
Hold me near when
Sunny gets blue
Oh yes, when sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue
When sunny gets blue
Sunny gets blue
"When Sunny Gets Blue," sung by Chris Connor, is a melancholic masterpiece that speaks to the heartbreak of a woman who's been abandoned by her lover. The song's lyrics portray a sense of loss and longing that's conveyed through the imagery of the changing weather patterns. As sunny skies turn into grey and dismal clouds, and rain begins to fall, the mood of the song is set, and we enter into the emotional landscape of the woman. The lyrics use the device of synecdoche in the phrase "when sunny gets blue" to describe the emotional turmoil of the singer as she tries to cope with the loss of her lover.
The next lyrical passage describes how, in the absence of her lover, "no sweet lover man comes to call." This is a profound statement, as it speaks to the deep sense of loneliness the woman feels as a result of the breakup. The image of the "winds that sway the trees" is also significant in that it conveys a sense of fragility or vulnerability. Just as the trees sway under the force of the wind, so too does the woman feel like her heart is being tossed around by the winds of fate.
The final section of the song speaks to the possibility of hope and healing through the arrival of a new lover. The lyrics use the imperative "hurry new love, hurry here" to express the urgency of the woman's need for affection and companionship. If a new lover doesn't come soon, she may be lost forever. The overall theme of the song is thus one of sadness and heartache, but there is a glimmer of hope that suggests that love can, in fact, conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
When sunny gets blue
When the person referenced as "sunny" becomes sad.
Skies get grey and cloudy
The weather reflects the sadness and melancholy of "sunny."
And the rain begins to fall
The weather continues to reflect the sadness and melancholy of "sunny."
Pitter patter, pitter patter
The sound of the rain is heard in the background.
Love is gone
The reason for "sunny's" sadness may be due to lost love.
So what can I do
The singer is feeling helpless in the face of "sunny's" sadness.
No sweet lover man comes to call
There is no one to comfort or console "sunny" when she's sad.
Oh when sunny gets blue
Reiteration of the fact that the song is about "sunny's" sadness.
She breathes a sigh of sadness
A physical manifestation of "sunny's" sadness.
Like the winds that sway the trees.
The wind is a metaphor for the melancholy emotions that "sunny" is experiencing.
Winds that set the leaves a-sway
The wind also affects the trees and leaves, representing how "sunny's" sadness affects those around her.
Like the violins that play
The mournful sound of the violins being played is another metaphor for "sunny's" sadness.
Strange and haunting melodies
The music further amplifies the feeling of sadness and melancholy.
Sunny gets blue
Reiteration of the song's theme.
People used to love to see her laugh
A contrast to "sunny's" current mood, which is the reason for the song's theme.
And see her smile
Again, a contrast to "sunny's" current mood.
That's how she got her name
The artist reminds the listener that "sunny's" name is derived from her happy disposition.
Since that sad affair
Something has occurred to cause "sunny's" sadness.
She's lost her smile
The physical manifestation of "sunny's" sadness.
Changed her style
"Sunny's" personality has shifted along with her mood.
Somehow she's not the same
The artist acknowledges that "sunny" has changed as a result of her sadness.
The memories come back
"Sunny" reflects on past memories of happiness.
And pretty dreams rise up
"Sunny" may be longing for a happy future.
Where the other dreams fell through
The artist acknowledges that "sunny" has endured disappointments in life.
Hurry new love, hurry here
The singer wishes for "sunny" to find new love and happiness quickly.
Kiss away each lonely tear
A metaphor for finding comfort in the arms of a loved one.
Hold me near when
The singer may be imagining a scenario where they are the source of comfort for "sunny."
Sunny gets blue
Reiteration of the song's theme.
Oh yes, when sunny gets blue
The last reminder that the song is about "sunny's" sadness.
Sunny gets blue
Reiteration of the song's theme.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARVIN FISHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind