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.
Makin' Whoopee
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous; he answers twice
It's really killin'
Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring
He's washin' dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget, folks
That's what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee
Another year or maybe less
What's this I hear? Well, you can't confess
She feels neglected, and he's suspected
Of makin' whoopee
She sits alone 'most every night
He doesn't phone her; he doesn't write
He says he's busy, but she says, "Is he?"
He's makin' whoopee
He doesn't make much money
Only five thousand per
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You'll pay six to her"
He says, "Now, Judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge right into jail"
You'd better keep her; I think it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee
You'd better keep her
I know it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee
The song "Makin' Whoopee" by Dinah Washington is a satirical piece that depicts the pros and cons of getting married. It starts off with the singer talking about how common it is for people to get married in June and how they seem to have a perfect honeymoon. However, as the song progresses, it takes a turn towards the reality of marriage where the husband is too busy to spend time with his wife and how it costs more than it is worth to get divorced.
In the second verse, the singer paints a picture of a love nest where the couple is happy and in love. However, this is short-lived as the reality of the responsibilities of marriage becomes apparent. The husband is now washing dishes and baby clothes, and even sewing, to help his wife, but this still does not make her happy. The repetitive chorus of "That's what you get folks, for makin' whoopee" emphasizes the artist's opinion that marriage is not always a bed of roses.
In the final verse, the singer talks about how the husband may end up paying more money to his wife if they get divorced. The judge advises the husband to stay married rather than making whoopee outside of his marriage, as it would be cheaper for him. The song ends with the line "You'd better keep her; I know it's cheaper than makin' whoopee," which highlights the sense of responsibility that comes with making decisions in life that have long-term consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Another bride, another June
Just another wedding in June
Another sunny honeymoon
Just another sunny honeymoon to enjoy
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee
Just another season and another reason to make love
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
Lots of shoes, lots of rice and big celebrations
The groom is nervous; he answers twice
It's really killin'
That he's so willin' to make whoopee
The groom is nervous at the idea of marriage and having sex, but he's eager to do it
Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Imagine a beautiful little house surrounded by blooming roses
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring
Imagine the same love nest after a year and what changes it can bring
He's washin' dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget, folks
That's what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee
He's doing household chores and even sewing for his wife, but that's what you get when you get married and have sex
Another year or maybe less
What's this I hear? Well, you can't confess
She feels neglected, and he's suspected
Of makin' whoopee
After a year or so, the wife feels neglected, and the husband is suspected of cheating
She sits alone 'most every night
He doesn't phone her; he doesn't write
He says he's busy, but she says, "Is he?"
He's makin' whoopee
The wife is alone most nights, and the husband doesn't call or write. She suspects he's having an affair
He doesn't make much money
Only five thousand per
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You'll pay six to her"
He doesn't earn much, only five thousand dollars a year, but the judge orders him to pay six to his wife in alimony
He says, "Now, Judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge right into jail"
You'd better keep her; I think it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee
He asks the judge what will happen if he can't pay the alimony. The judge warns him to comply, or he'll go to jail. It's cheaper to keep his wife than to have extramarital affairs
You'd better keep her
I know it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee
It's better and cheaper to keep your wife than to cheat on her
Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, DistroKid, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind