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.
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
Dinah Washington Lyrics
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Any time we have a date
But I love him
Yes I love him
I'm gonna walk up to his gate
See if we can't get this thing straight
Cause I want him
Say is you is, or is you ain't my baby
The way you're acting lately, it makes me doubt
You is still my baby, baby
But it seems like my flame in your heart, done gone out
A man is a creature
That has always been strange
Just when you're sure of one
You'll find that he's gone and made a change
Is you is or is you ain't my baby
Well, maybe baby's found somebody new
Or is my baby still my baby true
Now is you is or is you ain't my baby
Maybe baby's found somebody new
Is my baby still my baby true
I guess my baby's found somebody new
And I'd better get right up and go out and find me somebody too
I said I'd go out and find me somebody too
In Dinah Washington's song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," the singer expresses her doubts about the status and fidelity of her lover. She conveys that the man is always late for their dates, but despite his recurrence of keeping her waiting, she loves him. The singer decides to confront her lover by "walking up to his gate" and "getting this thing straight" because she wants him and "she's going to have him." She questions his commitment to her by asking, "is you is, or is you ain't my baby?" with the recent behavior of her lover making her doubt the latter.
However, the singer acknowledges the unpredictable nature of men, stating that they "have always been strange," and just when a woman believes she understands them, men change. The song sheds light on the feelings of uncertainty about a romantic relationship and the fear of being replaced by someone else. The final lyrics reveal that the singer has decided to move on and find someone new, as she believes that her lover has already done the same.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a man that's always late
My partner is never on time when we have plans
Any time we have a date
Each and every time we arrange to meet up
But I love him
Despite his tardiness, I still have strong feelings for him
Yes I love him
I am sure of my love for him
I'm gonna walk up to his gate
I will approach his front entrance (to his house)
See if we can't get this thing straight
I want to discuss our relationship and resolve any issues
Cause I want him
My desire for him is strong
And I'm gonna have him
I am determined to be with him
Say is you is, or is you ain't my baby
I need to know if you are still my lover or not
The way you're acting lately, it makes me doubt
Your recent behavior has caused me to question our relationship
You is still my baby, baby
I am hopeful that you are still my lover
But it seems like my flame in your heart, done gone out
Your passion towards me seems to have faded away
A man is a creature
Men can be unpredictable
That has always been strange
They have always been enigmatic
Just when you're sure of one
Just when you think you know them well
You'll find that he's gone and made a change
They will suddenly behave differently
Well, maybe baby's found somebody new
It is possible that you have met someone else
Or is my baby still my baby true
I'm not sure if you are still faithful or not
Now is you is or is you ain't my baby
I need to know whether you are still in love with me
I guess my baby's found somebody new
I am starting to believe that you have moved on to someone else
And I'd better get right up and go out and find me somebody too
I need to start looking for another lover as well
I said I'd go out and find me somebody too
I promised myself that I would search for a new partner too
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Austin, Louis Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind