Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist… Read Full Bio ↴Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No. 4 hit, "The Late, Late Show". She was also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to Islam as interpreted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

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.

On Green Dolphin Street
Dakota Staton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh

Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay

Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street

Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart

When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street

Overall Meaning

In Dakota Staton's song "On Green Dolphin Street," the singer reflects on a past romance that they can't help but think about with a sigh. They describe the experience as feeling like a dream, but they know that it really happened. The setting in which the romance unfolded was Green Dolphin Street, and the singer can't seem to let go of the memories that were created there. The chorus repeats this idea, emphasizing the significance of the location in the singer's memories.

The lyrics suggest that the romance was brief, as the man and the maid shared a kiss and then said goodbye. However, despite the brevity of the relationship, the singer seems to have been deeply impacted by the experience. The setting of Green Dolphin Street, with its romantic atmosphere, seems to have played a significant role in the intensity of the feelings that were experienced by the singer. Overall, the song is a wistful recollection of a past romance that, while short-lived, left a lasting impression.

Line by Line Meaning

It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Despite feeling like a distant dream, I know that the events truly took place.

A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
The story involves the brief romance between a man and a woman, which ends in a goodbye after sharing a kiss.

Romance was the theme
The underlying concept of the story is romance.

And we were the players
The people involved in the story were the ones experiencing the romance.

I never think of this without a sigh
Reflecting on the memories of the romance always leaves a sense of longing and sadness.

Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The location where the romance took place was on the titular Green Dolphin Street.

The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The memories of the romance that occurred on Green Dolphin Street were unforgettable and remained vivid in the mind.

And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Despite being separate from the person and the location, the memories of the romance still linger in the heart.

When I recall the love I found on
Thinking back to the romance brings forth strong emotions of love and affection.

I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
The artist feels immense gratitude and appreciation towards Green Dolphin Street for being the backdrop of the fond memories of the romance.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, PATTI WASHINGTON MUSIC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: MILES DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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