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.
Summertime
Dakota Staton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh your daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'
So hush little babby, don't you cry
One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
But till that morning
There's a nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by.
Dakota Staton's song "Summertime" is a rendition of the classic jazz standard from George Gershwin's 1935 opera "Porgy and Bess." The song captures the essence of a relaxed and carefree summertime atmosphere while highlighting the differences in socioeconomic status between the singer and the baby to whom she sings.
The opening lines "Summertime and the livin' is easy / Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high" set the mood of the song. The listener can imagine a serene and laidback summer day where the fishing is good and the cotton crops are thriving. The next line, "Oh your daddy's rich and your ma is good looking" emphasizes the divide between the wealthy and the poor. The lyric suggests that the baby to whom the singer is singing has the privilege of being born into wealth and beauty.
In the second verse, the singer encourages the baby that someday they will "rise up singing" and "take to the sky" like a bird. The words imply that the singer hopes for a bright future for the little one. The final line, "with daddy and mammy standin' by" offers reassuring comfort to the baby.
Overall, Dakota Staton's "Summertime" is a soothing and nostalgic song. It invites the listener to relax and enjoy the beauty of summertime while also recognizing the impact of social status on one's quality of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Summertime and the livin' is easy
Summer is here and life is laidback
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Nature is thriving; fish are swimming and cotton is growing tall
Oh your daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'
You come from a wealthy and attractive family
So hush little babby, don't you cry
You have no need to worry or be upset, everything will be alright
One of these mornings
At some point in the future
You're going to rise up singing
You'll feel so happy and fulfilled that you'll start singing
Then you'll spread your wings
You'll take risks and explore new things
And you'll take to the sky
You'll soar and achieve great things
But till that morning
Until that time comes
There's a nothin' can harm you
You're in a safe and protected environment
With daddy and mammy standin' by.
Your parents are always there to support and care for you
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOROTHY HEYWARD, DU BOSE HEYWARD, GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind