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.
The Story of the Blues
Della Reese Lyrics
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try to belive me cos' could be front page news,
I said I live it like it hasn't happened yet
I can thinking on everyone how I'm the one the one they're trying to get.
To tell...
(Story of the Blues)
First they take your pride,
then turn it all inside,
So you try to stop,
try to get back up,
and then you realize you're telling the Story of the Blues.
Felling browbeaten day after day,
I think It's over but I just can't get away.
You said forget it,
well don't jump the gun,
you're laughing this time next time you might be the one
To tell...
(the story of the blues)
First they take your pride,
then turn It all inside,
and then you realize you got nothing left to lose.
So you try to stop,
try to get back up
and then you realize you're telling the Story of the Blues.
Repeat chorus...
What they gonna say about me when they tell
the Story of the Blues.
In Della Reese's song "The Story of the Blues," she tells the tale of being down on her luck and feeling like she has nothing left to lose. She holds the "story of the blues" in her pocket, portraying the idea that she has experienced the hardships of life firsthand. She goes on to talk about how others have tried to take away her pride and make her feel small, but she refuses to let them win. She acknowledges the struggles she faces each day but says that she cannot escape them. She warns others not to be too quick to laugh or judge others who are going through tough times because they might be experiencing the same hardships before too long.
The song's lyrics are a poignant commentary on the human experience, reminding us that life can be unpredictable and difficult. It also highlights the idea that we are all capable of experiencing tough times, and we should not judge others who are going through difficult situations. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that the "story of the blues" is a common experience that many people can relate to, regardless of their background or situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in my pocket I've got the story of the blues,
I carry the pain and struggles of the blues genre with me everywhere I go.
try to belive me cos' could be front page news,
The intensity and significance of the blues warrants it to be headline-worthy news.
I said I live it like it hasn't happened yet
I experience the blues in a way that is fresh and new each time, as if it is the first time I've ever encountered it.
I can thinking on everyone how I'm the one the one they're trying to get.
I reflect on how others are impacted by the blues, and how I am the one being targeted by the genre's challenges.
First they take your pride,
The oppressive forces behind the blues strip away one's sense of dignity and self-worth.
then turn it all inside,
The negative effects of the blues turn a person's emotions and thoughts inward, causing them to suffer internally.
and then you realize you got nothing left to lose.
After experiencing the full force of the blues, one recognizes that they have nothing else to lose.
So you try to stop,
Despite the overwhelming struggles of the blues, one strives to fight back and stand up against it.
try to get back up,
One attempts to rise from their struggles and continue on with life despite the heaviness of the blues.
Felling browbeaten day after day,
Day in and day out, the weight of the blues can make one feel defeated and worn down.
I think It's over but I just can't get away.
Even when it appears that the struggles of the blues are behind them, they still linger on and continue to affect one's life.
You said forget it,
Others may dismiss the importance of the blues and advise that one move on from it.
well don't jump the gun,
However, it is not so easy to simply forget or brush aside the immense struggles of the blues.
you're laughing this time next time you might be the one
The challenges of the blues may not always be experienced by the same person - anyone can become the next target for its struggles.
What they gonna say about me when they tell
One wonders what others will think about them and their struggles when the story of the blues is told.
the Story of the Blues.
The entire song is a reflection on the immense struggles and pain associated with the blues genre.
Contributed by Bailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.