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.
Broadway
Dakota Staton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybodys happy and gay
Where the night is brighter than day
All along in broadway
Sweethearts and beaus
On their way to movies and shows
Dressed up in their Sunday best clothes
Out of town I'm low down
When I walk along the main street
Anywhere I don't care but I always find mainstreet
Just another plainstreet
Broadway, broadway
Take a little time out for play
Where the joy of living holds sway
All along on broadway
Broadway, broadway
Everybodys happy and gay
Where the night is brighter than day
All along in broadway
Sweethearts and beaus
On their way to movies and shows
Dressed up in their Sunday best clothes
Up and down broadway
Out of town I'm low down
When I walk along the main street
Anywhere I don't care but I always find mainstreet
Just another plainstreet
Broadway, broadway
Take a little time out for play
Where the joy of living holds sway
All along on broadway
Out of town I'm low down
When I walk along the main street
Anywhere I don't care but I always find mainstreet
Just another plainstreet
Broadway, broadway
Take a little time out for play
Where the joy of living holds sway
All along on broadway
The song "Broadway" by Dakota Staton is a cheerful ode to the famous street in New York City that's known for its bright lights and entertainment industry. The song starts off with the lyrics "Broadway, broadway, everybodys happy and gay, where the night is brighter than day, all along in broadway", which give a sense of the vivaciousness and excitement that the area is known for. The following lines speak of couples, dressed in their finest clothes, going to watch movies and shows. The singer wishes she was also on Broadway, as when she is out of town, she feels low and lonely.
Line by Line Meaning
Broadway, broadway
The singer is singing about Broadway and repeating its name.
Everybodys happy and gay
The singer is saying that everyone is happy and joyful on Broadway.
Where the night is brighter than day
The singer is saying that there's so much happening on Broadway that it feels like night time is brighter than day time.
All along in broadway
The singer is reiterating that Broadway is the place where all of this is happening.
Sweethearts and beaus
The singer is referring to couples on their way to movies and shows.
On their way to movies and shows
The singer is saying that the couples are on their way to watch movies or live shows.
Dressed up in their Sunday best clothes
The singer is saying that the couples are dressed up in their best clothes.
Up and down broadway
The singer is saying that the couples are wandering up and down Broadway.
Out of town I'm low down
The singer feels down when she's out of town away from Broadway.
When I walk along the main street
The singer is referring to walking along the main street of a different town.
Anywhere I don't care but I always find mainstreet
The singer says that even though she doesn't care where she goes in the other town, she always ends up on the main street.
Just another plainstreet
The singer is saying that the main street of another town is just plain compared to Broadway.
Take a little time out for play
The singer is encouraging listeners to take some time off to play and have fun on Broadway.
Where the joy of living holds sway
The singer is saying that the essence of Broadway is the joy of living and having fun.
All along on broadway
Once again, the singer is highlighting that all of this is happening on Broadway.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Bird, Henri Woode, Teddy McRae
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anne Anderson
My father owned the album with this cover. I loved My Funny Valentine, Green Dolphin Street, What Do You See In Her, and many other songs on that album. Thank you for allowing me to once again be at home listening to my father's records.
Chris Orton
My father too. What a great voice!
clementine swift
Thank You!! for posting this. Mom listened to her in the 60's. I fell in love at 10 or 11. Almost forgot about how wonderful Dakota was , even to an 11 year old.
Lawrence Kenchen
I got to watch Ms. Dakota Staton live many times in clubs all along Broadway, in NYC. The first time I saw her was with my friend John Staton, who happened to be her nephew. I was 15 years old that first time. I loved her the first time I listened to her sing and continued listening for many years after that. She is one of my favorite singers and I listen to Dakata many times during the week. Her sound is always up-lifting and swings throughout whatever she is singing. I thank the almighty for giving us the opportunity to see and hear a great singer and I wish she were still with us so that her grove could continue forever.
Lawrence Kenchen
Dakota Forever!
Nancy Waltzer
And Dakota sang it sooo well!
Nancy Waltzer
Love this song!
carole johnson
This is a true song about Broadway, What fun times in Broadways New York.
Oohlalala
my father's cut! oh this brings back memories of daddy gettin dressed to hit the night clubs.... good memories!
Thomas
who is the trombonist on this?
Clark Marion
@tromboneJTS awesome! Thanks!