An actress, singer, talk show host, and author, the multi-talented Reese first started singing in church in her hometown of Detroit when she was six years old. By the age of 13, she was touring with gospel great Mahalia Jackson; then, at 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to bring gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. Reese expanded her musical repertoire as a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and began recording albums, with such hits as "Don't You Know" and "And That Reminds Me" in the 1950s. She appeared extensively as a guest on the top television variety series, logging more than 20 appearances in one year on The Ed Sullivan Show on the CBS Television Network. Reese was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Female Soloist in Gospel Music in 1987.
Tapping into her other skills, she was host of a television talk show in 1969-1970, then began guest-starring in such series as Sanford and Son, The A-Team, Crazy Like a Fox and Picket Fences. She starred in the CBS Network series Charlie & Co. and The Royal Family. Reese's current projects include a new album based on her 27-city tour with her revue, "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues," as well as song on the Touched By An Angel Soundtrack. Her best-selling autobiography, "Angels Along the Way," is published by G.P. Putnam's Sons. Reese also starred in the telefilms Emma's Wish, with Joanna Kerns, and The Secret Path, with Ossie Davis.
And Now
Della Reese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The teardrops start
And now the rain begins
Within my heart
But that's the price I pay
The price a fool must pay
For I let true love slip away
And now the blues walk in
And sleepless nights
No gypsy violins
No starry flights
Just broken dreams for me
Of fading memories
And now to love that once was mine
Goodbye
Just broken dreams for me
Of fading memories
And now to love that once was mine
Goodbye
Della Reese's song "And Now" is a poignant exploration of the aftermath of lost love. The opening line, "And now the pain begins," sets the tone for the entire songβthe singer is deeply hurt and struggling to move past the end of their relationship. The teardrops and rain that follow represent the emotional turmoil and sadness that often come with heartbreak. The lyrics encapsulate the sense of loss and loneliness that the singer feels, as they watch their former love slip away from them.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the mistakes they made along the way. They accept that they let "true love slip away" and that the pain they are experiencing now is the price they pay for that mistake. The imagery of the blues and sleepless nights highlights the sense of despair that the singer feels as they come to terms with the loss of their love.
Despite the heaviness of the song, there is also a sense of acceptance and closure in the final lines. The singer acknowledges that their love is gone, and while they are left with broken dreams and fading memories, they are also able to say goodbye and move forward.
Overall, "And Now" is a powerful and insightful examination of the end of a love affair. Through the use of vivid imagery and emotional lyrics, Della Reese creates a touching tribute to the complexity of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
And now the pain begins
The singer is starting to feel pain and hurt.
The teardrops start
The singer begins to cry.
And now the rain begins
The singer feels sadness and hurt within their heart.
Within my heart
The sadness is felt deep within the singer's heart.
But that's the price I pay
The singer recognizes that the pain and hurt they are feeling is a consequence of their actions.
The price a fool must pay
The singer acknowledges that they made a foolish decision that led to their pain and suffering.
For I let true love slip away
The singer recognizes that they lost a true love due to their own actions or decisions.
And now the blues walk in
The singer feels a sense of sadness and despair.
And sleepless nights
The singer is having trouble sleeping due to their emotional state.
No gypsy violins
The singer's life is missing the romance and passion that they once felt.
No starry flights
The singer's dreams have been shattered and they don't see a bright future ahead.
Just broken dreams for me
The singer's hopes and aspirations have been shattered.
Of fading memories
The memories of the past are slowly fading away.
And now to love that once was mine
The singer has lost the love they once had.
Goodbye
The singer is saying goodbye to the love they lost and accepting their fate.
Contributed by Landon K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidwalsh3439
What a truly amazing performer Della Reese is. This is how a song should be sung, a master class. A performance for all time.
@dancingbear86
Awesome song by an awesome voice! This is my favorite song by Della! A classic!
@petermartini-yates3776
I have virtually all of her albums, and I still play them, this voice is deep rich and georgeous. Many thanks for posting.
@gingerfeliciano9531
My baby went to be with the Angels Today. I love Della Reese I can't imagine living life without your velvet voice embracing my ears and heart. I will miss you.
@GoldenOldies101
Everytime I listen to it, it brings back memories for me too and yes... I sometimes shed a little just like you...
@danischnittger7167
Della Reese just amazing makes my heart cry in a beautiful way I love UR music
@nikkiesmommie
I'm rediscoverig Della.I had forgotten how good she is.This is amazing.She's up there with Timi Yuro in my opinion.Fabulous.
@nikkiesmommie
totally awesome...dynamic...beautiful
@1408alan
This gorgeous torch song would make a fabulous theme song for a film or tv series.
@GM8101PHX
Another totally wonderful piece by Della Reese, need not say anything else!