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Constance Foore "Connee" Boswe… Read Full Bio ↴From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 - October 11, 1976) was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City, Missouri but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her."[1]
In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
The Boswells came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925, which included "Cryin' Blues" where Connee is featured singing in the style of her early influence, the African American singer Mamie Smith. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, would later become their manager on a handshake and become a permanent part of Connee's life.
The Boswell Sisters travelled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production "Under Montana Skies." did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy.
In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee Boswell continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
All through her career with The Boswell Sisters, and well into the 1940s, her name was spelt "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.
Connee Boswell was also an arranger (the legendary Boswell Sisters harmony arrangements are hers) and a composer.
Connee sang from a wheelchair - or seated position - during her entire career, due to either a childhood bout with polio or a childhood accident (sources differ). The general public was not aware of her condition although Boswell herself did not keep this secret. During World War II, she tried to get involved with the U.S.O. tours but was not given permission to travel overseas. The "powers that be" apparently thought it might not be a morale-booster to have a "cripple" perform for the troops.
Connee Boswell was a favorite duet partner of Bing Crosby and they frequently sang together on radio as well as recording several hit records as a duo in the 1930s and 1940's. Boswell, Crosby, and Eddie Cantor recorded a version of Alexander's Ragtime Band that was a #1 hit in 1938.In 1939, Crosby and Boswell had three hit duet records that each climbed into the top 12 on Billboard; "An Apple For The Teacher" climbed all the way to #2.
Connee Boswell also had several dozen solo hits, including "Moonlight Moon" in 1942. Boswell's career slackened in the 1950s but she still recorded occasionally and would be featured on a number of television broadcasts including a regular stint on the 1959 series "Pete Kelly's Blues".
Connee Boswell died at age 68 in 1976. A number of her recordings are now available on CD, both as a soloist and part of the Boswell Sisters.

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
Connee Boswell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I let a song go out of my heart
It was the sweetest melody
I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song

Since you and I have drifted apart
Life doesn't mean a thing to me
Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong

Am I too late to make amends?
You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends

I let a song go out of my heart
Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day

I let a song go out of my heart

Believe me, darlin', when I say
I won't know sweet music until you return some day

Overall Meaning

The song "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is a melancholic reflection on lost love and missed opportunities. The opening line "I let a song go out of my heart" can be interpreted as a metaphor for a lost love that once brought great joy and happiness. The singer laments the loss of this love and how their life has lost its meaning since their departure. The phrase "It was the sweetest melody" emphasises the beauty of the relationship that has now been lost.

The second verse "Since you and I have drifted apart" acknowledges that the relationship has ended and that the singer was responsible for its demise. They regret their actions and plead for the return of the "sweet music" that they once shared. The line "Am I too late to make amends?" highlights the sense of regret and urgency that the singer feels.

The third verse "You know that we were meant to be more than just friends" reveals that the relationship was deep and meaningful, and that the singer believes that they should have been more than just friends. The final verse "I won't know sweet music until you return some day" expresses the hope that the love will be rekindled and that the music will once again play.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on lost love, missed opportunities and regret. The metaphor of the song emphasises the beauty and joy of the relationship, while the singer's plea for the return of the love highlights the power and importance of love in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I let a song go out of my heart
I lost something so valuable that it feels like I lost a part of me

It was the sweetest melody
The thing that I lost was the most beautiful and pleasant thing to me

I know I lost heaven 'cause you were the song
Your presence made me feel complete and made my life so much better than it is now

Since you and I have drifted apart
Our relationship has broken down over time and we have become distant from each other

Life doesn't mean a thing to me
Without you, my life has become meaningless and empty

Please come back, sweet music, I know I was wrong
I realize my mistake and I am begging you to come back so that we can make things right again

Am I too late to make amends?
I fear that I may have lost you forever and missed my opportunity to fix things between us

You know that we were meant to be more than just friends, just friends
Our connection was deeper than just a casual friendship, and I regret taking it for granted

Believe me, darlin', when I say
I am being sincere and truthful in what I am saying

I won't know sweet music until you return some day
My life will never be complete without you, and I won't be able to experience true happiness until you come back into my life

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Henry Nemo, John Redmond, Irving Mills

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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