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.
It Could Happen to You
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lock your dreams at night
It could happen to you
Don't count stars
Or you might stumble
Someone drops a sigh
And down you tumble
Keep an eye on spring
It could happen to you
All I did was wonder
How your arms would be
And it happened to me
The lyrics to Dinah Washington's song "It Could Happen to You" are a warning against letting one's guard down when it comes to matters of the heart. The opening lines, "Hide your heart from sight/Lock your dreams at night," suggest that the singer has been hurt in the past and is advising others to protect themselves from a similar fate. The repetition of the phrase "It could happen to you" emphasizes the universality of the message and the idea that no one is immune to heartbreak.
The second verse, with its warning not to "count stars," suggests that the singer believes in the capriciousness of fate and the unpredictability of love. The lines "Someone drops a sigh/And down you tumble" convey a sense of vulnerability and the idea that one can be caught off guard by unexpected emotions. The final lines, "All I did was wonder/How your arms would be/And it happened to me," suggest that the singer herself has fallen victim to the lure of love despite her best efforts to guard against it.
Overall, the lyrics to "It Could Happen to You" convey a sense of caution and wariness when it comes to matters of the heart. While the singer clearly believes in the power of love, she also recognizes its potential to cause pain and advises listeners to be on their guard.
Line by Line Meaning
Hide your heart from sight
Do not make your desires and feelings too apparent to the world, keep your heart guarded and protected.
Lock your dreams at night
Keep your aspirations and ambitions to yourself, do not reveal them to anyone else who might crush them.
It could happen to you
The unexpected and surprising can occur in anyone's life, even to those who take extreme precautions to avoid it.
Don't count stars
Do not waste your time and effort on hopeless endeavors, and do not get carried away by impractical fantasies.
Or you might stumble
If you become preoccupied with distractions and lose sight of reality, you may suffer unwanted consequences.
Someone drops a sigh
A seemingly insignificant event or moment of emotion can trigger a chain of events that lead to major changes in one's life.
And down you tumble
Once your life takes an unforeseen turn, it can quickly spiral out of control and plunge you into difficult situations.
Keep an eye on spring
Be cautious and alert of the signs of new beginnings, as they can bring both opportunities and challenges.
Run when church bells ring
Act quickly and decisively when the signals of impending trouble arise, as it may be a sign to flee a difficult situation.
It could happen to you
No one is immune to the twists and turns of fate, and everyone is susceptible to the whims and caprices of life.
All I did was wonder
The mere act of contemplating something or someone can have unexpected and far-reaching consequences in one's life.
How your arms would be
A simple thought or desire can result in larger changes, as it can trigger one's imagination and lead to unexpected outcomes.
And it happened to me
The outcome of one's thoughts and actions can lead to unforeseen opportunities or consequences, both positive and negative.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maurice Dorsey
I love this woman and her voice!
Gwen Reeves
Dinah Washington's voice is sassy with a hint of ache. Very expressive. She is one of my favorite singers.
voicegirl555
Happy Birthday Dinah Washington! Nobody could sing like you! You leave your mark on a song and leave us wanting more.
Sharon Gallup
How beautifully Dinah sings this... love her particular timbre and feeling for this song, which is most beautiful, in and of itself. I also love the way Dinah sings What A Difference A Day Makes! Oh the most beautiful music came from the 40's, period!
stephen griffin
Mr too. I can play them over and over again. Fact is I do.
stephen griffin
Just wonderful, so much feeling, couldn't be sang any better.
Thomas Lombardo
Her voice was tart cool and full of passion. We will never see a talent like this again. R.I.P. The Queen💛💛💛
Nicholas Santiago
LOVE DINAH AND LOVE THE SONG. SHE HAD A SPECIAL KIND OF VOICE THAT STOOD OUT. YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GUESS WHO WAS SINGING, YOU KNEW WHO WAS SINGING. I LOVE 'WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES & I WONT CRY ANYMORE". I REALLY LOVE ALL OF HER SONGS.
john melmer
the incomparable dinah
stephen griffin
I went to a free Sunday afternoon "Tony Bennett" songs show at the Clinton Top library with my Daughter. I said to her,he is just messing this up. These songs need to sung soft and with sensitivity. I sent he email with Dinah and It could happen to you.