Born in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she attended George Westinghouse High School and studied music at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh. Later she performed regularly in the Hill District, a jazz hotspot, as a vocalist with the Joe Westray Orchestra, a popular Pittsburgh orchestra. She next spent several years in the nightclub circuit in such cities as Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis. While in New York, she was noticed singing at a Harlem nightclub called the Baby Grand by Dave Cavanaugh, a producer for Capitol Records. She was signed and released several singles, her success leading her to win Down Beat magazine's "Most Promising Newcomer" award in 1955. In 1958, Staton wed Talib Dawud, a black Antigua-born Ahmadi Muslim trumpeter and noted critic of Elijah Muhammad. She subsequently converted to Islam and used the name Aliyah Rabia for some time. The marriage ultimately ended in divorce.
She released several critically acclaimed albums in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including: The Late, Late Show (1957), whose title track was her biggest hit, In the Night (1957), a collaboration with pianist George Shearing, Dynamic! (1958) and Dakota at Storyville (1961), a live album recorded at the Storyville jazz club in Boston. In the mid-1960s Staton moved to England, where she recorded the album Dakota ′67. Returning to the US in the early 1970s, she continued to record semi-regularly, her recordings taking an increasingly strong gospel and blues influence. She suffered a stroke in 1999, after which her health deteriorated. Staton died in New York City aged 76 in 2007.
Avalon
Dakota Staton Lyrics
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Across the sea where flying fishes play
And as the night is falling
I find that I'm recalling
That blissful all enthralling day
Just be-fore I sailed away
She said the word I longed to hear her say,
Close to my heart I pressed her
Upon that golden yesterday
I found my love in Avalon
Beside the bay
I left my love in Avalon and sailed away
I dream of her and Avalon
From dusk 'til dawn
And so I think I'll travel on
To Avalon
The song "Avalon" by Dakota Staton is a nostalgic ballad about a love found and left behind. The lyrics describe the memories the singer has of a beautiful day spent with a lover in the idyllic town of Avalon. The opening lines depict the singer's memories straying across the sea to where flying fishes play, setting a dreamy, romantic tone. As night falls, the singer reminisces about the day they spent together and the words of love spoken between them. The singer tenderly embraces her lover, reliving the moment before sailing away from Avalon.
The song is a reflection on the sadness of leaving behind a love found in a special place. It captures the essence of nostalgia and romantic longing, evoking the image of a picturesque coastal town that holds memories of love and happiness. The lyrics are simple but emotionally charged, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful, adding to the sense of wistful yearning.
Line by Line Meaning
Ev'ry morning mem'ries stray
Every morning I am taken back in time to a certain memory.
Across the sea where flying fishes play
In my mind, I am transported across the sea where I recall an enjoyable memory.
And as the night is falling
As the day comes to an end and the darkness takes over.
I find that I'm recalling
I realize that I am actively remembering something significant from my past.
That blissful all enthralling day
That beautiful and enchanting moment in time that has stayed with me over the years.
Just be-fore I sailed away
Right before I left to travel and explore other places.
She said the word I longed to hear her say,
She finally spoke the words I had been waiting to hear from her for a long time.
I tenderly caressed her
I expressed my affection for her through a gentle touch or caress.
Close to my heart I pressed her
I held her close to my chest in a warm embrace.
Upon that golden yesterday
During that unforgettable and cherished time in the past.
I found my love in Avalon
I discovered the person I loved while in a place called Avalon.
Beside the bay
Next to the shoreline or waters of the bay in Avalon.
I left my love in Avalon and sailed away
I departed from the person I loved in Avalon to begin a journey or new chapter in my life.
I dream of her and Avalon
I think about her and Avalon often, especially at night when I am sleeping.
From dusk 'til dawn
All throughout the night, from sunset to sunrise the next day.
And so I think I'll travel on
I still have the desire to continue traveling and exploring new places, but the memory of Avalon and the person I left behind will always stay with me.
To Avalon
To the place where I once found love and experienced unforgettable moments.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL DAVID HOPPE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind