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.
Homeward Bound
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Babe I called to tell you I'm feelin' so all alone,
And I'm warnin' you to be ready, for your mama's comin' home!
I was high last night, but today I'm dull and low,
I was high last night, but today I'm dull and low,
I've got a dime in my pocket and a long long way to go!
Tell me baby, have you any strange women hangin' around?
You better store my treat 'cause your mama's homeward bound!
The song Homeward Bound by Dinah Washington tells the story of a woman who is feeling lonely, but also suspicious of her partner. The woman calls her partner to express her loneliness and let him know that she is on her way home. She also questions him about any other women that may be around, warning him to take care of her so that she does not become jealous or angry. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and tension, as the woman seems to be preparing herself for a potential confrontation with her partner.
The first two lines of the song show that the woman is feeling alone and reaching out to her partner for comfort. However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the woman is also anxious and suspicious, as seen in her question about strange women. It is possible that the woman is feeling this way because of past experiences with her partner, or perhaps she is simply a jealous person. The final line of the song, "You better store my treat 'cause your mama's homeward bound," suggests that the woman feels entitled to her partner's affection and expects him to take care of her.
Overall, Homeward Bound is a song about the complicated dynamics of relationships, particularly when it comes to trust and jealousy. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a woman who is both vulnerable and strong, and who is determined to make sure that her partner stays faithful to her.
Line by Line Meaning
Babe I called to tell you I'm feelin' so all alone,
I feel isolated and distant from others, so I reached out to you for comfort and support.
And I'm warnin' you to be ready, for your mama's comin' home!
I'm giving you notice that I'm returning home soon, so be prepared for my arrival.
I was high last night, but today I'm dull and low,
I felt euphoric and carefree last night, but today I feel sluggish and unhappy.
I've got a dime in my pocket and a long long way to go!
I only have a small amount of money, and I have a significant distance to travel.
Tell me baby, have you any strange women hangin' around?
I'm curious if there are any unfamiliar women in your company.
You better store my treat 'cause your mama's homeward bound!
You should save some fun activities or rewards for me, since I'm on my way back to you.
Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.