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.
But Not for Me
Dakota Staton Lyrics
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Never tell me dreams come true
Just try it and I'll start a riot
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
They're writing songs of love but not for me
A lucky star's above but not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I guess he's not for me
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
In Dakota Staton's rendition of "But Not For Me," the lyrics describe a woman who is skeptical of the idea of love and finding a true soulmate. She dismisses the notion that dreams can come true and scoffs at the idea of being happy-go-lucky ("cheerful Pollyannas"). The singer of the song expresses her cynicism towards love and relationships, suggesting that she has been burned before and knows the truth about the insubstantiality of the entire concept.
The lyrics describe the singer as someone who is not looking for a typical romantic experience, and their skepticism is apparent in verses such as “With love to lead the way I’ve found more clouds of gray/Than any Russian play could guarantee.” Here, Staton suggests that even in the world of fiction, happy endings are not guaranteed, much less in real life. The song concludes with the singer reflecting on a past romance and recognizing their foolishness in believing it could be anything more than fleeting. Although she can’t forget the memory of his kiss, she accepts that he’s “not for me.”
One interesting fact about "But Not For Me" is that it was written by the famous songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin in 1930 for their musical "Girl Crazy." The song has since become a jazz standard, and various artists have covered it throughout the years, including Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Another fascinating fact is that the song's melody is known for its frequent use of chromaticism, which gives it a unique, bittersweet quality. Additionally, the song was one of the few standards to be included in the soundtrack for the popular video game "BioShock."
Line by Line Meaning
Old man sunshine listen you
I don't want to hear any optimistic predictions
Never tell me dreams come true
I don't believe in fairy tales
Just try it and I'll start a riot
If you force it on me, I'll protest
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
Don't even try to convince me otherwise
Ever tell me he will care
Don't tell me he'll ever love me
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I know it's over for me
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
I don't want to hear from overly optimistic people
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
Who believe that destiny will bring you a partner
It's all bananas
It's all nonsense
They're writing songs of love but not for me
People may be singing about love, but not for me
A lucky star's above but not for me
Even if there is a lucky star, it's not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Love hasn't led to happiness for me
Than any Russian play could guarantee
It's worse than even a sad play from Russia
I was a fool to fall and get that way
I was foolish to let myself fall in love
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
I feel sad and disappointed about it now
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I can't deny the memory of our kiss, but it doesn't mean he's the one for me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind