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.
Why Don't You Do Right
Della Reese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You let other people make a fool of you
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too
You're sittin' here wonderin' what it's all about
if you don't get some, I'm gonna put you out
Why don't you do right like some other men do?
If you had prepared twenty years ago
You wouldn't be wanderin' from door to door
Why don't you do right like some other men do?
I'm not fool and get out of here and get me some money too
(Orchestral Break)
If you had prepared twenty years ago
You wouldn't be wanderin' from door to door
Why don't you do right like some other men do?
I mean and get out of here and get me some money too
Why don't you do right like some other men do?
Like some other men do
The lyrics to Della Reese's Why Don't You do Right revolve around a woman expressing her dissatisfaction with her partner who has "plenty of money" but lets "other people make a fool of" himself. She tells him to start doing things "like some other men do" which means to start making money through legitimate means so that she too can share in the wealth. The woman is tired of waiting and is threatening to put him out if he doesn't start bringing in some money. She then tells him that if he had prepared earlier, he wouldn't be in this situation where he has to wander from door to door looking for opportunities to make money. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, calling for the man to do right "like some other men do."
The lyrics can be interpreted as a critique of a man's laziness and lack of ambition. The woman is frustrated that her partner has failed to provide for her despite having the means to do so. She is not content with his lack of effort and is demanding that he do better. The song reflects the gender roles and expectations of the time period it was written in, where men were expected to be the sole providers for their families.
Line by Line Meaning
You had plenty money, Nineteen-Fifty-Two
You had a lot of money back in 1952
You let other people make a fool of you
You allowed yourself to be taken advantage of by others
Why don't you do right, like some other men do?
Why don't you straighten up and act right, like other men do?
Get out of here and get me some money too
Go out and make some money for me as well
You're sittin' here wonderin' what it's all about
You're sitting here, clueless and confused about everything
if you don't get some, I'm gonna put you out
If you don't get some money, I'm going to kick you out of here
If you had prepared twenty years ago
You should have been prepared twenty years ago
You wouldn't be wanderin' from door to door
You wouldn't be going from place to place, searching for money
I'm not fool and get out of here and get me some money too
I'm not a fool, so leave and bring back some money for me as well
Why don't you do right like some other men do?
Why don't you straighten up and act right, like other men do?
Like some other men do
Just like other men do
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gerard Cerdan * Mightygroove *
Toujours excellent la version de Della Reese, merci Michel !! °L°