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.
I'll Close My Eyes
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A song through its doors
Just as if it seems to know
I'm exclusively yours
Knowing this
I feel but one way
You will understand too
In these words that I say
To everyone but you
And when I do
I'll see you standing there
Mmh, I'll lock my heart
To any other caress
I'll never say yes
To a new love affair
I'll close my eyes
To everything that's gay
If you're not there
To share each lovely day
And through the years
Those moments
When we're far apart
I close my eyes
Mmh, and see you with my heart
I'll close my eyes
To everything that's gay
But if you're not there
To share each lovely day
And through the years
Those moments
When we're far apart
I'll close my eyes
Oh, and see you with my heart
The lyrics to Dinah Washington's I'll Close My Eyes speak of an all-consuming love that is exclusively for one person. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that she feels the presence of her lover through the music that comes to her. She is convinced that this music is a sign from heaven that her lover is meant for her alone. She then goes on to declare that her heart belongs to her lover and that she will never say yes to a new love affair. She promises to close her eyes to everyone but her lover, never to be swayed by any other caress.
The chorus repeats the promise of the singer to close her eyes to everything and everyone except her lover. She declares that if her lover is not there to share each lovely day with her, she will close her eyes to everything that's gay. However, in moments of separation, she will close her eyes and see her lover with her heart.
The lyrics relay a deep and abiding love, one that is all-consuming and exclusive. The imagery of closing one's eyes to everything except the one they love speaks to the idea that the only thing that matters is the person they are with. The song is a powerful declaration of love, a promise to love and hold only one person forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven sends
Divine intervention provides me with a song to express my love for you.
A song through its doors
This song is a gift sent from the heavens.
Just as if it seems to know
The song arrives at the right moment, as if it knows my feelings.
I'm exclusively yours
You are the only person I love and trust with my heart.
Knowing this
Because of my love for you and your reciprocated feelings, I am confident in our future together.
I feel but one way
My love for you is so strong, I have only one path to follow.
You will understand too
You share this love with me, and therefore understand my devotion to you.
In these words that I say
These lyrics are my declaration of love and commitment to you.
I'll close my eyes
I will shut out the distractions of the world to focus solely on you.
To everyone but you
My love is exclusive to you, and I will ignore all others.
And when I do
When I close my eyes, I will visualize only you.
I'll see you standing there
In my mind, you will be present and close to me.
Mmh, I'll lock my heart
My heart belongs to you, and I will not open it to allow anyone else to enter.
To any other caress
I will reject any other touch or advances from anyone else.
I'll never say yes
I will reject any love that comes my way, since my heart already belongs to you.
To a new love affair
I will not start a new relationship, since I am happily committed to you.
I'll close my eyes
I will ignore anything that distracts me from my love for you.
To everything that's gay
I will not participate in any happy activities or events if you are not present to share it with me.
If you're not there
Your presence is essential to my happiness.
To share each lovely day
I want to spend every moment with you, enjoying the beauty of life together.
And through the years
As time goes by, my devotion to you will remain strong.
Those moments
When we are apart,
I close my eyes
I will shut out everything else and focus on my love for you.
Oh, and see you with my heart
In my mind, I will visualize you, and my heart will feel your presence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY REID, BUDDY KAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gino Louis
Heaven sends
A song through its doors
Just as if it seems to know
I'm exclusively yours
Knowing this
I feel but one way
You will understand too
In these words that I say
I'll close my eyes
To everyone but you
And when I do
I'll see you standing there
Mmh, I'll lock my heart
To any other caress
I'll never say yes
To a new love affair
I'll close my eyes
To everything that's gay
If you're not there
To share each lovely day
And through the years
Those moments
When we're far apart
I close my eyes
Mmh, and…
Sharon Lightfoot
I dedicate this to my beloved husband, Bob. I lost him almost 2 years ago. We had a 44 year love affair. Hearing Dinah sing this brings me to tears.
Bruce Merrill
I was your 100th like! Wonder if that's a good sign? I loved your 8yo comment and pray all's well for you and hangin in there.
House71Music
Sharon Lightfoot 😢😢😢
Frederick Cole
Sharon Lightfoot, isn't it wonderful how this song can bring such tender emotion? I had been saving it for years to be the first dance when I married the love of my life. Sadly, he passed away before that could ever happen. It's pure bittersweet beauty isn't it? 😌
totalvicky
I love Dinah ... and also I love all the comments from the young people all around the world proving there is still a market for great vocals! How inspiring! :-)
Wacn Wacn
What a song and voice!!!! My Mom told me about Miss Washington some years ago. She told me the truth about her. The truth is that this woman had a beautiful voice!!!!! Yes, she does.
awwyeahme2
My Mom saw her in concert. She never forgot it or what she wore .
Rajnoma
I'm a big Dinah Washington fan-I have all of her CD collections. She has the most moving
phrasing; her voice is truly unique -very loving music!
colsome miah
I'll be seeing' you....
Tea and Muffins
Clearly a handyman with good tastes :) I don't think Dinah and strings ever collaborated more beautifully or complemented each other more successfully than they do on this record.