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 Wanna Be Around
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody twice as smart as I.
Somebody who will swear to be true like you used to do with me,
Who'll leave you to learn that misery loves company, wait and see.
I wanna be around to see how he does it when he breaks your heart to bits,
Let's see if the puzzle fits, so fine,
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet,
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
That's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet,
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
When somebody breaks your heart like you broke mine,
Like you, like you broke mine.
The lyrics of "I Wanna Be Around" by Dinah Washington revolve around the idea of revenge after a heartbreak. The main protagonist of the song says that despite being hurt by their lover in the past, they still want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody else breaks their heart. The singer acknowledges that the new person in their lover's life might be even smarter than they are, but they have a desire to witness their lover's downfall and heartbreak. They want to see how the new person will handle the heartbreak and if they will suffer as the singer did. The lyrics imply that revenge is sweet and the singer will enjoy watching their lover in misery, just as they were left in the same state.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses their pain and sadness but also takes on a vengeful tone as they describe a desire to witness their former lover's downfall. The lyrics suggest that they are bitter and resentful about what happened and want to see their ex go through the same pain they experienced. The line, "That's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet, as I sit there applauding from a front row seat," hints at the singer's deep-seated anger and desire for payback. In the end, the lyrics imply that the singer wants their ex to suffer as they have suffered, and they will relish watching their downfall in person.
Overall, the song "I Wanna Be Around" showcases a mixture of sadness, yearning, and revenge after a heartbreak. The singer expresses their desire to be there for their ex, but not out of kindness or love. Instead, they want to see their ex suffer and watch as their new lover breaks their heart. The lyrics show how heartbreak can lead to vindictiveness and the desire for payback.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart,
I want to still be in your life so I can support you when you get your heart broken by someone else.
Somebody twice as smart as I.
I know the one who breaks your heart will be smarter than me.
Somebody who will swear to be true like you used to do with me,
The person who breaks your heart will make the same promises you used to make to me.
Who'll leave you to learn that misery loves company, wait and see.
That person will eventually leave you, and you will understand that heartbreak is a lonely experience.
I wanna be around to see how he does it when he breaks your heart to bits,
I want to witness the moment when the person who breaks your heart realizes how painful it can be.
Let's see if the puzzle fits, so fine,
I wonder if the two of you will be able to make it work, or if you'll experience the same heartbreak that we did.
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet,
If you do get your heart broken again, I will feel satisfied because I have been hurt before.
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
I will be watching from a distance and taking pleasure in the fact that someone else has made you feel the same pain I felt.
When somebody breaks your heart like you broke mine.
When someone else breaks your heart like you did to me, I will finally feel like justice has been served.
Like you, like you broke mine.
I will never forget how you broke my heart, and I hope that someone else makes you feel the same way someday.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sadie Vimmerstedt, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erforder Lich
This is the only version I know (so far) with complete lyrics. And needless to say: So f'ing great!
I wanna be around
to pick up the pieces
when somebody breaks your heart.
(Some) somebody twice as smart as I.
(A) somebody who will swear to be true
like you used to do with me
Who'll leaves you to learn
that misery loves company.
Wait and see!
I wanna be around
to see how you take it,
when he starts to play your game
starts handing you the same
old lie
That's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet,
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
When somebody breaks your heart like you broke mine.
I wanna be around
to see how he does it
when he breaks your heart to bits,
Let's see if the puzzle fits so fine,
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet,
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
When somebody breaks your heart like you broke mine.
veeganboy
She put her stamp on every song she sang.
This one is no exception. #QueenoftheBlues
007jimmymac
Discovering, or re-discovering, the fantastic 'Dinah'. I was a small child during the early sixties and my ears were filled with so much wonderful music from black and white and young and old artists alike. I have never forgotten these melodies but, oh, America, what has happened to you?
Nuri Majeed
Yes! What happened America???
Lance Robertson
The woman's voice in song is an entertaining and soothing drug to my heart and soul. 🎙🎵🎼🎶🙂
SMRNY 910
What a treat it would have been to see her perform live...................Often imitated never duplicated. One of a kind Simple as that.
awwyeahme2
My Mom saw her when she was girl an she never forgot it.
Edward Berridy
Damn! My mom had and played this album when I was growing up. Been a LONG time since I've heard it. What a great voice Ms. Dinah had. Memories... Thanks for posting this one.
Chaz Mann
Wow - what a natural talent gone too soon. Nancy Wilson clearly emulated Dinah's style and phrasing beautifully........
Doobe J
Etta James too. All of them are descendants of Billie Holiday's school of phrasing. I love the evolution of music through voices!
Doobe J
She sung the hell out of this. She made a sad lyric feel victorious.