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.
September in the Rain
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In September in the rain
The sun went out just like a dying ember
That September in the rain
To every word of love I heard you whisper
The raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain
Though spring is here, to me it's still September
To every word of love I heard you whisper
The raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain
Though spring is here, to me it's still September
That September in the rain
That September in the rain
The lyrics of Dinah Washington's song September in the Rain portray a bittersweet memory of the past. The opening lines talk about the arrival of autumn where the leaves turn brown and fall off from the trees. The singer sets the ambiance of the song by reminiscing about the month of September, which is associated with the beginning of the fall season, and the rain that accompanied it. As the song progresses, the singer sings about whispered words of love that they heard as the rain played its sweet refrain. Even though spring has arrived, and everything is blooming and becoming new again, it is still "September in the rain" for the singer.
The song seems to describe a nostalgic memory of a past love that is unforgettable for the singer. The rain is symbolic of the tears shed, and it becomes a metaphor for the sadness and heartache caused by the memory of love that is now gone. Dinah Washington's voice encapsulates the emotion of the song, and her soulful singing makes the lyrics feel all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
The leaves of brown came tumblin' down, remember
I recall a time when the leaves were brown and falling in September while it was raining.
In September in the rain
This memory of the leaves falling in September occurred during a rainy month.
The sun went out just like a dying ember
The sun was setting like an ember dying out, and it got dark and gloomy.
That September in the rain
This gloomy period of the sun setting in September was during a rainy month.
To every word of love I heard you whisper
During this time, you whispered words of love to me, and I remember them fondly.
The raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain
The sound of the raindrops felt like they were playing a sweet melody in the background.
Though spring is here, to me it's still September
Even though spring has arrived, I can't help but be reminded of that September; it's a feeling that lingers.
That September in the rain
I am still thinking and feeling that memory of September in the rain.
Lyrics ยฉ Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catherinemurphy6503
The leaves of brown came tumblin' down, remember
In September in the rain
The sun went out just like a dying ember
That September in the rain
To every word of love I heard you whisper
The raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain
Though spring is here, to me it's still September
That September in the rain
To every word of love I heard you whisper
The raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain
Though spring is here, to me it's still September
That September in the rain
That September in the rain
Songwriters: Harry Warren / Al Dubin
@mickpower7414
The older I get the more I am drawn to the music of yester year. What an artist, vocal perfection. Dinah Washington one of the all time greats.
@erniemoorer5103
Great post Mick! She was the generation slightly before me but parents schooled me on her Billie Nancy Sarah! Tremendous voice on Ms Washington! What an era!
@thetigerstripes
For sure ! I remember her from when I was in Junior Highโฆ.her singing must have made an impression.
@drjerry5389
I hear you. Im 50 years old amateur musician and have transformed into a music lover of all eras. I heard the Beatles version of this song 20 years ago and YouTube just started back then, so it was easy to find this original! I don't know why people are obsessed with age? I enjoy music and culture overall more and more the older I get. As a 50-year-old I can say I now feel like a grown-up and Im not afraid of getting older!
@Johnnycdrums
Amen.
@Johnnycdrums
68 @@drjerry5389;
I feel like I'm Forty again.
@shawnmalone9711
Who's listening in September 2023?
@robertcappadoro4210
Doesn't matter ! I do !
@rosegardenia8588
2024
@michaelsilveira3495
The sweetest voice love these magnificent old tracks they will live always