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.
Love for Sale
Dinah Washington Lyrics
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Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled, love for sale
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price, for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
I know every type of love better far than they
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love every love but true love
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
I know every type of love better far than they
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love every love but true love
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale, love for sale, love for sale
The lyrics of Dinah Washington's Love for Sale can be interpreted as a commentary on the commodification of love in modern society. The opening lines describe the oppressive nature of the city streets, with the only sound being the footsteps of a lonely cop. Washington then reveals that she is open for business, selling "love" that is "appetizing, young, and fresh." This can be seen as a cynical commentary on the way love is treated as a product to be bought and sold, rather than a genuine emotion.
The lyrics then pose the question to the listener - who will buy this love, that is only slightly soiled? Who is willing to pay the price for a trip to paradise? This again highlights the idea that love is being used as a commodity, something that can be purchased for a temporary thrill or escape. The final lines of the song, with Washington inviting the listener to follow her and climb the stairs to her "wares," drive home the idea of the transactional nature of love.
Overall, Love for Sale can be seen as a biting critique of the way society views love as a product, rather than an emotion. Washington's powerful vocals and the mournful saxophone accompaniment lend a sense of desperation to the lyrics, emphasizing the sadness and emptiness that comes from treating love as a commodity.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound in the empty street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop I open shop
When it is quiet in the deserted street and the only sound is of the police on patrol, I start my business.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
After the night has been long and the town has gone after its wrong ways to the extent that the moon loses its charm, I begin my work.
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled, love for sale
I am selling love, which is young and still untouched, and even the ones that are slightly soiled.
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price, for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Who is interested to try my products? Who wants to pay the cost to have a wonderful experience? I am selling love.
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
I know every type of love better far than they
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love every love but true love
The poets romantically speak about love but I have experienced every type of love and know it more than they do. If you want to experience the excitement of love, I have traveled the journey of love with every type of love except true love.
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love is still available and I'm selling it. If you're interested in purchasing my goods, just come and follow me.
Love for sale, love for sale, love for sale
Love is for sale and still available anytime.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind