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.
Once There Lived a Fool
Dakota Staton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Many moons ago.
She was such a fool,
Ask me, I should know!
I still remember the way she would cry
Each time you said goodbye;
And walked in the rain,
But please don't ask me why!
Once there lived a fool,
But, as wise men say,
Even fools in love,
They wake up one day!
There's no more sadness,
no tears in her eyes,
I'm so glad she's free.
Once there lived a fool,
That fool was me!
Once there lived a fool,
That fool was me!
That fool was me!
The lyrics in Dakota Staton's song "Once There Lived a Fool" details the story of a person who was once a fool in love. The opening lyrics "Once there lived a fool, many moons ago, she was such a fool, ask me, I should know" highlights how the character was foolish for being in love. The lyrics go on to describe how the character would cry each time their lover left them and how they felt almost insane when it rained. These lyrics showcase the emotional turmoil the character was experiencing while in love, possibly highlighting the negative effects of being in an unhealthy, one-sided relationship.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest that the character eventually realizes their self-worth and overcomes their love. The lyrics state that "even fools in love, they wake up one day" highlighting how the character eventually sees the reality of their situation. The lyrics state that the character is no longer sad and has no more tears in their eyes, suggesting that the character has moved on and is no longer weighed down by their love. The final lyrics, "Once there lived a fool, that fool was me!" showcase that the character was the fool in love and has now moved on, growing and moving forward from that experience.
Overall, the lyrics in Dakota Staton's "Once There Lived a Fool" highlight the emotional struggles that can come with love and the importance of self-worth and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Once there lived a fool,
Long ago, there was a person who acted foolishly.
Many moons ago.
This occurred a long time ago.
She was such a fool,
The person in question acted foolishly.
Ask me, I should know!
The artist has direct knowledge of this person's foolish behavior.
I still remember the way she would cry
The artist recalls the person's past emotional outbursts.
Each time you said goodbye;
Every time this person was left by someone they cared for.
And walked in the rain,
They went outside in a downpour.
Almost insane,
Their actions bordered on irrationality.
But please don't ask me why!
The reason for their behavior is unknown to the artist.
Once there lived a fool,
This person acted foolishly in the past.
But, as wise men say,
As the proverb goes,
Even fools in love,
Even foolish people can experience love.
They wake up one day!
These individuals eventually come to their senses.
There's no more sadness,
The person no longer feels sorrow.
no tears in her eyes,
They are no longer crying.
I'm so glad she's free.
The artist is happy that this person is no longer troubled.
Once there lived a fool,
This person acted foolishly in the past.
That fool was me!
The singer is admitting that they were once the foolish person described in the song.
That fool was me!
The singer emphasizes that they were the foolish person mentioned previously.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JESSIE MAE ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind