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.
Ask a Woman Who Knows
Dinah Washington Lyrics
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And leaves me all alone
He never tells me where he goes
I'm not the only lonely one
Just ask a woman who knows
We used to share our troubles
And the good times too
I'm not the only sorry one
Just ask a woman who knows
The days are long
Oh, but the nights are longer
I got the lonesomest blues
You know my only consolation
Is I ain't got nothing more to lose
So there you have the story
Of a love gone wrong
That used to blossom like a rose
Oh, I'm not the only broken heart
Just ask a woman who knows
(Musical Interlude)
Well my only consolation
Is that I got nothing more to lose
So there you have the story
Of a love gone wrong
That used to blossom like a rose
But I'm not the only broken heart
Just ask a woman
And I'm a woman
Just ask a woman who knows
Oh, yeah
Ask a woman, ask a woman
And I'm a woman
Who knows
The song "Ask a Woman Who Knows" by Dinah Washington is a ballad about a woman whose relationship has fallen apart. She sings about her partner, who is always out and about, and how he never tells her where he is going. The loneliness and betrayal in her relationship have left her feeling like she is not the only one going through this kind of pain. She suggests that if you want to understand her pain, you should ask any woman who has had a similar experience.
The song speaks to the heart of many women who have been in dysfunctional relationships with partners who tend to neglect them emotionally. In the song, Dinah Washington explains that she and her partner used to share their troubles and good times. However, now she feels left with all the woes. She further explains how lonely the days are, and the nights are longer, and she feels the lonesomest blues. The irony in her pain is that her only consolation is she has nothing more to lose.
This song is a beautiful collection of sadness and heartbreak performed by an exceptional vocalist, and like most great ballads, the emotion is the key ingredient. You can hear the pain in her voice as she sings about her relationship struggles. Women who have gone through similar experiences will be able to connect deeply with the song, as it speaks to their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
He stays out every night
My partner never comes home at night
And leaves me all alone
My partner's absence is causing me to feel isolated
He never tells me where he goes
My partner is not open with me about his whereabouts
I'm not the only lonely one
Other people related to me are experiencing the same loneliness
Just ask a woman who knows
Women who have faced this situation know how it feels
We used to share our troubles
We were open with each other and shared all our problems
And the good times too
We also used to have good moments together
Now I'm left with all the woes
But now, I'm the only one who's experiencing all the troubles
I'm not the only sorry one
Others who have been in my position also know how it feels like to be sorry
Just ask a woman who knows
Women who have faced this situation know how it feels
The days are long
The daytime seems to be stretching, making it hard to pass the time
Oh, but the nights are longer
But the dark, lonely nights are even harder to get through
I got the lonesomest blues
I'm feeling immensely lonely and depressed
You know my only consolation
My only source of comfort
Is I ain't got nothing more to lose
Is that I don't have anything else to give up on
So there you have the story
Now you've heard my tale
Of a love gone wrong
About my relationship that didn't work out
That used to blossom like a rose
That was once beautiful and promising
Oh, I'm not the only broken heart
Others have also been heartbroken
Just ask a woman who knows
Women who have faced this situation know how it feels
Well my only consolation
My only source of comfort
Is that I got nothing more to lose
Is that I don't have anything else to give up on
So there you have the story
Now you've heard my tale
Of a love gone wrong
About my relationship that didn't work out
That used to blossom like a rose
That was once beautiful and promising
But I'm not the only broken heart
Others have also been heartbroken
Just ask a woman
Women who have faced this situation know how it feels
And I'm a woman
I am a woman who knows
Just ask a woman who knows
Women who have faced this situation know how it feels
Oh, yeah
Definitely
Ask a woman, ask a woman
Consult with women who understand the experience
And I'm a woman
I am a woman who knows
Who knows
Who can relate and offer advice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VIC ABRAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind