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.
I'll Get By
Della Reese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as I have you
Though there be rain
And darkness too
I'll not complain
I'll see it through
Poverty
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
Della Reese's "I'll Get By" is a song about finding hope and comfort in a loved one despite the difficulties that may come with life. The lyrics suggests that as long as the singer have their loved one by their side, they will not let any hardship bring them down. The start of the chorus expresses that if the person they love is there, they will find a way to cope with the unpleasant things that come with life such as rain and darkness. They will see it through and not complain, even if they're in poverty. The song emphasizes that as long as the person they love is with them, they will get by even as everything else falls apart. The chorus ends with the self-affirmation that they can endure anything alone, expressing that they don't need anyone else to make it through life's difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll get by
I'll manage to survive, to endure.
As long as I have you
As long as I have your love and support, I'll be fine.
Though there be rain
Although there may be hardships and difficulties.
And darkness too
And even if everything seems hopeless and gloomy.
I'll not complain
I won't grumble, I won't whine or moan about my situation.
I'll see it through
I'll persevere until I overcome the obstacles and emerge victorious.
Poverty
Being poor and in need.
May come to me, it's true
It's possible that I'll face poverty someday, it's a fact of life.
But what care I
But why should I worry or be concerned?
Say, I'll get by
I'm confident that I'll manage to survive, no matter what happens.
As long as I have you.
Because I have your love and support as my anchor and my strength.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind