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.
Bad Luck
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Used to the bitter end
I'm used to trial and troubles
'Cause I never had a friend--bad luck
Well, well, bad luck
Well, I'm used to trial and troubles
Bad luck don't bother me
I'm used to takin' beatings
Used to being alone
Used to be mistreated
With nobody to call my own--bad luck
Lord, lord, lord, lord, bad luck
Yes, I'm used to being mistreated
Bad luck don't bother me
I'm used to being broke
Used to being sad
I'm used to lousy people
And I'm used to being mad
A bad luck, yeah, yeah, yeah, bad luck
Oh, bad luck and lousy people
No, no, no, they don't bother me
I've been takin' for a fool
Been takin' for a square
Been used for a tool
And I've been told that I'm nowhere
Bad luck, oh, oh, bad luck, yeah, yeah, bad luck, bad luck
No, no, it don't bother me
Right now I'm just a cool little fool
And bad luck don't bother me
Dinah Washington's "Bad Luck" depicts a person experiencing a constant stream of bad luck in life. The tone is almost nonchalant, with the character almost seeming resigned to their fate. She sings about being used to misfortune and trials, never having any friends, taking beatings, being alone, being mistreated, being broke and sad, and having lousy people around her. She has been taken for a fool, a square, and a tool, always being told that she's nowhere - but through it all, bad luck doesn't seem to bother her. She even declares that she is a cool little fool right now, as though she's accepted that bad luck is just a part of her life.
The song paints a picture of a person who has been dealt a series of unfortunate events in life and has come to accept them as their reality. The theme of resilience is present, as the character has learned to live with bad luck and continues to move forward despite it. In a way, the song represents a form of catharsis, as the character has come to terms with their life and the cards they have been dealt.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm used to misfortune, baby
I am accustomed to experiencing bad events in my life, my dear
Used to the bitter end
I have accepted and become immune to the unpleasant outcomes in my life
I'm used to trial and troubles
I am familiar with experiencing hardships and challenges in my life
'Cause I never had a friend--bad luck
It is unfortunate that I never had a real friend in my life
Well, well, bad luck
Yes, indeed, my life has been plagued with bad luck
Well, I'm used to trial and troubles
Well, I have become accustomed to facing difficulties and hardships
Bad luck don't bother me
I am not disturbed by any unfortunate events in my life
I'm used to takin' beatings
I am familiar with being mistreated or physically beaten
Used to being alone
I am used to being by myself without any companionship
Used to be mistreated
I have become accustomed to being treated with disrespect or cruelty
With nobody to call my own--bad luck
It is unfortunate that I do not have anyone to call my own or to depend on in my life
Lord, lord, lord, lord, bad luck
Dear Lord, my life has been plagued with bad luck and misfortune
Yes, I'm used to being mistreated
I am familiar with being treated badly or unfairly
Bad luck don't bother me
Any unfortunate events or circumstances do not affect me negatively
I'm used to being broke
I am accustomed to being poor or having financial problems
Used to being sad
I am constantly feeling unhappy or depressed
I'm used to lousy people
I am familiar with being surrounded by unpleasant and unsupportive individuals
And I'm used to being mad
I am familiar with feeling angry or frustrated
A bad luck, yeah, yeah, yeah, bad luck
Oh, it is definitely bad luck that I am experiencing in my life
Oh, bad luck and lousy people
It is unfortunate to be affected by bad luck and to be surrounded by unpleasant individuals
No, no, no, they don't bother me
However, these circumstances do not affect me negatively
I've been takin' for a fool
I have been taken advantage of in the past or treated unfairly
Been takin' for a square
I have been wrongly or unjustly labeled in the past
Been used for a tool
I have been treated like an object or used for someone else's benefit
And I've been told that I'm nowhere
I have been told that I am insignificant or worthless
Right now I'm just a cool little fool
Currently, I am a composed and calm individual despite my negative experiences
And bad luck don't bother me
I am not affected by any bad luck or unfortunate events currently
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUANITA HILL, DINAH WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scotland The Brave
Thank you for this! It is like my theme song and I love it! Dinah was fabulous! Watch out for lousy folk!
voicegirl555
Happy Happy 95th Birthday Dinah! Boy you sang the hell out of this song! You go girl!!!!!
Scotland The Brave
Story of my life!!!
SMRNY 910
Rock me Dinah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What I wouldn't give to have seen and heard her live!
Geezer Gonewild
Sounds like Eddie Chamblee & His Orchestra (1957) backing the great Miss W.
voicegirl555
Go see Melissa McCarthy in the excellent movie Can you ever forgive me! This song is played on the soundtrack with host of other great songs!!! The soundtrack is worth the price of admission. The movie is not bad either! Love you Miss Dinah!!!!!!
voicegirl555
@Amelie Wilde You can say that again!
Amelie Wilde
the music on that movie is one of the greatest things on the film💖
Rafael Graça
I'm here because of the movie "Can you forgive me?" from Melissa McCarthy
Les Queen2599
It’s can you ever forgive me and I liked this song before the movie the movie just reminded me of it