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.
Let Me Love You
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From town to town
Now I'm ready to stop, y'all
And settle down
Cause it's a life of misery
When you're alone
And I've got to have somebody
Oh, baby, let me love you
Whoa, baby, I wanna love you
I need to love you, girl
I'll be your water
When your well goes dry
And your good loving man, honey
Til the day I die
I'll be your shelter, yes, I will
Whenever it rains
And like Dr.Feelgood
I can ease your pain
Hey, baby, I wanna love you
Whoa, baby
I've got to love you, girl
I need to love you
Listen here
I need you and want you
So come on, girl
Let's find some happiness
In this old world
Lord knows I'm gonna carry you
Baby, by myself
I've got to have you
And nobody else
Oh, baby, I wanna love you
Whoa, baby
I need to love you, girl
I've got to love you
Now come here, baby
Why don't you hold my hand
You know I'm gonna do
The very best I can
Lord knows I need you
Right by my side, girl
With love and affection
To keep me satisfied
Oh, Lord, I'm tired of running
From town to town
That's why I want you, girl
To help me settle down
The lyrics of Dinah Washington's song "Let Me Love You" convey the singer's desire for companionship and stability after feeling worn out from constantly running from town to town. She expresses that life is miserable without someone to call her own and she's ready to settle down. The song is about finding that person and dedicating herself to loving and supporting them through thick and thin.
The lyrics are straightforward and unambiguous. They speak of a straightforward desire to love and be loved with a sense of longing and urgency. The singer's tone is heartfelt and convinced, as if she's finally found the one to complete her life and she's not going to let them go.
The singer uses metaphors throughout the lyrics to express her feelings. She compares herself to a well that has gone dry, and promises to be her lover's water. She also compares herself to Dr. Feelgood, a doctor who can cure pain, and promises to ease her lover's pain. This is all to show that she is ready to be whatever her lover needs her to be, to make their life better.
Overall, "Let Me Love You" is a beautiful love song that expresses a longing for companionship and a deep love for someone else. With simple yet powerful lyrics, Dinah Washington has showcased her vocal talent and ability to convey emotion through music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of running
I am exhausted from moving constantly from place to place.
From town to town
I have been traveling to different cities without a place to call home.
Now I'm ready to stop, y'all
I am eager to finally settle down in one place.
And settle down
I want to establish a permanent residence in a place.
Cause it's a life of misery
Living alone is causing me great suffering.
When you're alone
Being by myself is making me miserable.
And I've got to have somebody
I need someone to share my life with.
To call my own
I want someone who belongs to me and me alone.
Oh, baby, let me love you
I am deeply in love with you and I want to express my love.
Whoa, baby, I wanna love you
I desire to shower you with deep, passionate love.
I need to love you, girl
Loving you is essential for my happiness.
I'll be your water
I will quench your thirst when you are parched.
When your well goes dry
When you feel depleted, I will replenish you.
And your good loving man, honey
I will be a faithful and affectionate partner to you.
Til the day I die
I will love you until my last breath.
I'll be your shelter, yes, I will
I will provide a safe haven for you to take refuge when life is harsh.
Whenever it rains
Whenever life gets tough, I will protect you from the storms.
And like Dr.Feelgood
I can make you feel better like a skilled physician.
I can ease your pain
I have the ability to soothe and alleviate your suffering.
Hey, baby, I wanna love you
I have an intense desire to love you deeply.
Whoa, baby
You have aroused passion in me.
I've got to love you, girl
I must show you how much I love you.
Listen here
Pay attention to what I am saying.
I need you and want you
I yearn for your love and companionship.
So come on, girl
Please be with me.
Let's find some happiness
Together, we can discover joy and contentment.
In this old world
Despite life's hardships, we can still find happiness.
Lord knows I'm gonna carry you
I will support and take care of you.
Baby, by myself
Without you, I am alone.
I've got to have you
You are essential to my life and happiness.
And nobody else
No one else can take your place in my heart.
Oh, baby, I wanna love you
I strongly desire to express my love to you.
I need to love you, girl
Loving you is crucial to my well-being.
I've got to love you
Loving you is a must for me.
Now come here, baby
Come closer to me, my love.
Why don't you hold my hand
Take my hand, and never let it go.
You know I'm gonna do
I promise to take care of you.
The very best I can
I will give you my best effort and love.
Lord knows I need you
I cannot imagine my life without you.
Right by my side, girl
I want you to be near me always.
With love and affection
I will show you love and kindness.
To keep me satisfied
Your love is what satisfies me and makes me happy.
That's why I want you, girl
I desire you because you bring joy to my life.
To help me settle down
Being with you will help me establish a peaceful and stable life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BART HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind