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.
They Didn't Believe Me
Dinah Washington Lyrics
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Like to watch you all the day
And it certainly seems fine
Just to think that you'll be mine
When I see your pretty smile
Makes the living worth the while
So I've got to run around
Telling people what I've found
And when I told them how beautiful you are
They didn't believe me, they didn't believe me
Your lips, your eyes, your cheeks, your hair
Are in a class beyond compare
You're the loveliest girl that one could see
And when I tell them
And I certainly am goin' to tell them
That I'm the man whose wife one day you'll be
They'll never believe me, they'll never believe me
That from this great big world you've chosen me
Don't know how it happened quite
May have been the summer night
May have been; well, who can say?
Things just happen any way
All I know is I said "yes"
Hesitating more or less
And you kissed me where I stood
Just like any fellow would
And when I told them how wonderful you are
They didn't believe me, they didn't believe me
Your lips, your eyes, your curly hair
Are in a class beyond compare
You're the loveliest thing that one could see
And when I tell them
And I certainly am goin' to tell them
That I'm the girl whose boy one day you'll be
They'll never believe me, they'll never believe me
That from this great big world you've chosen me
The lyrics to Dinah Washington's song They Didn't Believe Me speak of a love so deep that the singer cannot help but talk about it to everyone they met. The singer describes their partner's physical features, such as their lips, their eyes, their cheeks, and their hair as being beyond compare, and the loveliest anyone could see. The singer confesses that they did not know how they ended up with such a beautiful partner, but they know they hesitated a little before saying yes. After they kissed, the singer was sure that their partner was the one for them. They are excited at the prospect of getting married and are eager to tell the world about the luck they have. However, the others to whom they tell their tale simply do not believe them, and the singer laments that nobody trusts that someone so beautiful could choose them out of the millions of people in the world.
The song's themes are universal, and the lyrics are written in a contemporary style that is easy to understand. The sweetness and vulnerability of the lyrics resonate with anyone who has been in love, allowing the song to have a timeless quality that makes it still very much relevant and relatable today. The song's catchy and upbeat tempo adds to its charm, and Dinah Washington's unique voice and style make it one of her most memorable songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Got the cutest little way
I am attracted to your unique personality and the adorable quirks that make you who you are.
Like to watch you all the day
Spending time with you brings me immense joy and the thought of being able to do so all the time is thrilling.
And it certainly seems fine
Being with you makes everything in life seem better and more enjoyable.
Just to think that you'll be mine
The idea of being in a committed and loving relationship with you is exciting and motivating.
When I see your pretty smile
Your smile has the power to brighten up my day and make me feel happier.
Makes the living worth the while
Being with you is what gives my life purpose and makes each day meaningful.
So I've got to run around
I am eager to share my happiness with others and tell them about the wonderful person in my life.
Telling people what I've found
I can't keep the excitement and joy of being with you to myself and must share it with others.
And when I told them how beautiful you are
When I shared with others about your physical beauty and grace, they didn't believe me.
Your lips, your eyes, your cheeks, your hair
Your features and overall appearance are unparalleled and cannot be compared to anyone else's.
Are in a class beyond compare
You are simply the most beautiful person I have ever seen, and your beauty cannot be matched by anyone else.
You're the loveliest girl that one could see
You are not just physically beautiful but have a kind and loving personality, making you the ideal partner.
And when I tell them
Although others didn't believe me, I will continue to share with anyone who will listen about how wonderful you are.
And I certainly am goin' to tell them
I am determined to make sure that everyone knows about the amazing person in my life.
That I'm the man whose wife one day you'll be
I am confident that we are meant to be together forever and I will be proud to call you my wife someday.
They'll never believe me, they'll never believe me
Despite my efforts to share my happiness with others, some will simply not be able to comprehend just how special you are.
That from this great big world you've chosen me
I feel incredibly lucky and grateful that you have chosen to be with me, out of all the people in the world.
Don't know how it happened quite
I am unsure about how we came to be together, but I know it was meant to be.
May have been the summer night
Perhaps it was fate that brought us together on a warm summer evening.
May have been; well, who can say?
We may never know exactly why or how we ended up together, but it doesn't matter because we are happy and in love.
Things just happen any way
Sometimes the best things in life happen unexpectedly or by chance, and that is how we came to be together.
All I know is I said "yes"
Despite any doubts or uncertainty, I knew in my heart that being with you was the right choice.
Hesitating more or less
Although I may have had some hesitation or doubts, ultimately I knew that being with you was what I wanted.
And you kissed me where I stood
Your affection and love for me were so strong that it led you to kiss me in that moment, and I knew then that we were meant to be together.
Just like any fellow would
Your love for me is genuine and real, just like any person who truly loves someone else.
When I told them how wonderful you are
When I described your amazing personality and qualities, others still didn't believe me.
Your lips, your eyes, your curly hair
Your physical appearance is just one of the many things that make you special and unique.
You're the loveliest thing that one could see
Looking at you fills me with joy and happiness, and I can't imagine anyone more beautiful or wonderful than you.
That I'm the girl whose boy one day you'll be
I am confident that you are my soulmate and one day we will be together forever, as husband and wife.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HERBERT REYNOLDS, JEROME KERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind