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 Get a Kick Out of You
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But practically everything leaves me totally cold.
The exception I know is the case
When I'm out on a quiet spree,
Fighting vainly the old ennui,
And I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face.
I get no kick from champagne.
So tell me why should it be true
That I get a kick out of you?
Some, they may go for cocaine.
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
It would bore me terrifically, too.
Yet I get a kick out of you.
I get a kick every time I see
You standing there before me.
I get a kick though it's clear to see
You obviously do not adore me.
I get no kick in a plane.
Flying too high with some gal in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do.
Yet I get a kick, um you give me a boot
I get a kick out of you.
In Dinah Washington's song "I Get a Kick out of You," she starts out by stating that her story is too sad to tell, and that she remains indifferent towards almost everything. The only exception to this is when she is out, bored, and suddenly turns to see the person she loves, which gives her a reason to feel joy. Washington then goes on to mention that she doesn't enjoy champagne or alcohol but surprisingly gets a kick out of the person she loves.
She then compares her love for them to others' addiction to cocaine. To her, even the mere thought of trying it bores her, yet seeing the person she cares for gives her a thrill. Washington continues on, saying that she finds it inspiring every time she sees the person she loves, even though it's clear that they don't feel the same way. She ends the song by saying that even though she doesn't enjoy flying, as it's not her idea of enjoyment, the person she loves excites her and makes her feel elated.
Line by Line Meaning
My story is much too sad to be told,
My life has been filled with tragedies and difficulties that cannot be elaborated upon in any detail.
But practically everything leaves me totally cold.
I am largely unaffected by most things in life, as I remain unresponsive to them.
The exception I know is the case
However, there is one rare occurrence where I am able to feel alive and engaged.
When I'm out on a quiet spree,
This special occasion only arises when I am out, away from my usual environment of ennui and inactivity.
Fighting vainly the old ennui,
I am constantly struggling to overcome the persistent feeling of apathy and listlessness that pervades my existence.
And I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face.
But then I unexpectedly encounter you, and for a moment, everything appears to be vibrant and full of life.
I get no kick from champagne.
I do not derive any genuine pleasure or excitement from drinking champagne, despite it being considered as a luxurious beverage.
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all.
In fact, alcohol in general fails to elicit any significant emotional response from me whatsoever.
So tell me why should it be true
Thus, I am bewildered as to why there is one particular factor that always manages to bring out a different, exhilarating side of me.
That I get a kick out of you?
Why is it that in your presence, I am always filled with energy and excitement, despite my usual lifeless state?
Some, they may go for cocaine.
I recognize that there are those who find solace and pleasure in the consumption of illicit drugs such as cocaine.
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
However, I know that if I attempted to dabble in such substances, I would find it completely uninteresting and dull.
It would bore me terrifically, too.
Indeed, I would find it just as tedious and tiresome as any other activity that fails to excite me.
Yet I get a kick out of you.
And yet, despite my lack of enthusiasm for most things, I cannot deny the fact that I always feel a rush of emotion and energy upon seeing you.
I get a kick every time I see
The mere act of beholding your presence is enough to induce feelings of intense elation and excitement in me.
You standing there before me.
Just the sight of you, stationary and unmoving, is enough to fill me with a sense of wonder and admiration.
I get a kick though it's clear to see
Despite the fact that it is obvious and evident that you do not reciprocate my feelings, I cannot help but feel a sense of attraction towards you.
You obviously do not adore me.
It is clear that you do not feel the same way about me as I do about you.
I get no kick in a plane.
I do not find flying on an airplane or jetting off to faraway destinations to be an enjoyable or exciting activity.
Flying too high with some gal in the sky
In fact, the idea of soaring through the clouds with a lover or significant other is not an appealing prospect to me.
Is my idea of nothing to do.
This activity holds very little interest for me, and I would much rather do something else instead.
Yet I get a kick, um you give me a boot
However, despite my usual lack of interest in flying and travel, I cannot deny that being with you makes me feel an energizing jolt that I cannot help but be drawn to.
I get a kick out of you.
Ultimately, it is only in your company that I am able to find genuine joy and exuberance in life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brianlemaire4221
In my old age, I'm appreciating Dinah Washington more and more. Her line readings don't get sentimental — they keep up the rhythm as intended, to accentuate the music as intended.
@Hammerton32
From the phenomenal Dinah Washington. At the end, her sardonic line readings convey the bruising one's ego/heart takes when someone is obviously not interested.
@danielkannan6246
The genius arrangements of Quincy Delight Jones Jr …
@maurizioera
Very very nice!
@jorgemarcelodealmeidaantun4178
Bravo!!
@thomaslombardo3401
Dina does Cole Porter like no one else .😊😊😊
@eliciajones4955
Rip grandma boy I miss you time goes so fast
@nigerjenkins6372
Nice music
@user-hr6uy5go3q
👑👑👑👑👑
@bklyngurlwurl
Sing Dinah!