Washington was born Ruth Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As she was growing up in Chicago, she played piano and directed her church choir. Later, she studied in Walter Dyett's renowned music program at DuSable High School. For a while, she split her time between performing in clubs as Dinah Washington while singing and playing piano in Salle Martin's gospel choir as Ruth Jones.
Washington began performing in 1942 and soon joined Lionel Hampton's band. In 1943, she began recording for Keynote Records and released "Evil Gal Blues", her first hit. By 1955, she had released numerous hit songs on the R&B charts, including "Baby, Get Lost", "Trouble in Mind", "You Don't Know What Love Is" (arranged by Quincy Jones), and a cover of "Cold, Cold Heart" by Hank Williams. In 1958 she made a well-received appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival.
With "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" 1959, Washington won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance; the song was her biggest hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The commercially driven album of the same name, with its heavily reliance on strings and wordless choruses, was slammed by jazz and blues critics as being far too commercial, not keeping with her blues roots. Despite this, the album was a huge success and Washington continued to favor more commercial, pop-oriented songs rather than traditional blues and jazz songs. She also dealt in torch songs; her rendition of The Platters' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" was well-regarded.
She was married seven times, and divorced six times while having several lovers, including Quincy Jones, her young arranger. She was known to be imperious and demanding in real life, but audiences loved her. In London she once declared, "...there is only one heaven, one earth and one queen...Queen Elizabeth is an impostor", but the crowd loved it.
Dinah Washington died from an accidental overdose of diet pills and alcohol at the age of 39 in 1963.
A Stranger in Town
Dinah Washington Lyrics
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When you're a stranger in town.
And every chick looks so cute and slick,
When you're all alone and all down.
And then a smile will open the door
And in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
And then a smile will open the door
And in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
When you're a stranger, your heart is in danger,
When you're a stranger in town.
The lyrics of Dinah Washington's "A Stranger in Town" are quite straightforward but carry a deep meaning. At its core, the song is about the feeling of loneliness and isolation one experiences when they find themselves in a new and unfamiliar place. The lyrics tell us of the transformative power of companionship and human connections. When one feels lost and disconnected, the people around them can offer solace, making the unfamiliar place feel like home.
The song speaks to the universal experience of being a stranger in a strange land. Moving to a new place or starting over in an environment where you are not known or familiar can be simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. As Dinah sings, every girl suddenly becomes beautiful for those who are all alone and down. When you're a stranger, your heart is in danger, but even strangers can find friendliness in the welcoming smiles of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Every girl is a beautiful girl,
All girls seem attractive when you are new in town and don't know anyone yet.
When you're a stranger in town.
This feeling occurs only when you are new and do not have any local friends.
And every chick looks so cute and slick,
All women look charming and elegant when you are alone and desperate for company.
When you're all alone and all down.
This feeling of loneliness makes women appear more desirable and comforting.
And then a smile will open the door
A warm smile can begin a conversation and break the ice in new situations.
And in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
With time, you will make friends and become a local, no longer feeling like a stranger.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
Until you make friends and settle down, every woman you see will appear attractive.
When you're a stranger, in many towns.
This experience is not limited to one specific town or location, it can happen in numerous places.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
Until you make friends and settle down, every woman you see will appear attractive.
When you're a stranger, your heart is in danger,
Being new and alone can make you feel vulnerable and susceptible to heartache.
When you're a stranger in town.
This feeling of being at risk and alone only occurs when you are new in a location.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER MYERS, RONALD CASS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind