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.
My Old Flame
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How my thoughts go flashing back again to my old flame
My old flame, my new lovers all seem so tame, for I haven't met a gent
So magnificent or elegant as my old flame
I've met so many who had fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame
Until I discover what became of my old flame
I've met so many who had fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame
I can't even think of his name but I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became of my old flame
In Dinah Washington's classic song "My Old Flame," the singer reminisces about a past lover who still holds a special place in her heart. She begins by admitting that she can't even remember his name, yet she finds herself continuing to think back to their time together. The memory of her old flame seems to eclipse any new love interests she may have, as none of the men she's met since have been as "magnificent or elegant" as he was.
Washington uses vivid imagery to describe the various suitors who have crossed her path since her old flame, noting that while they may have had "fascinating" ways and "fascinating gaze in their eyes," they ultimately pale in comparison to her past love. She laments that their attempts at love were only "imitations" of what she had with her old flame, revealing that she's eager to discover what became of him so that she can finally move on.
Overall, "My Old Flame" captures the bittersweet nostalgia that often accompanies memories of a former love. Even as time passes and new relationships enter the picture, some individuals remain stuck on a past flame who somehow managed to leave an indelible mark on their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
My old flame, I can't even think of his name, but it's funny now and then
I can't remember the name of my old flame, but sometimes it's amusing to recall how the memories flash back.
How my thoughts go flashing back again to my old flame
The memories of my old flame keep coming back to me.
My old flame, my new lovers all seem so tame, for I haven't met a gent
So magnificent or elegant as my old flame
None of my new partners have the charm and sophistication of my old love.
I've met so many who had fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame
I have met many intriguing people, but they all fell short of matching the love and passion of my old flame.
I can't even think of his name, but I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became of my old flame
I may not remember his name, but I will not be at peace until I find out whatever happened to my old flame.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAM COSLOW, ARTHUR JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jo Ann Gabrielson
Great voice and intonation! Love 💘💘
Thomas Lombardo
Dinah made every song her own. 💛💛💛
eoselan7
Dinah pulls out all the stops in this knock out version of a song that could have been written for her.
Bohemian Hippee
Just amazing...
Enaida Unzueta
PersonalÃsima.
オフ
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Dana Porat
i love this song and the singer but the vedio is stoping all the time.