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.
What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I'm part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear
Since you said you were mine
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It's heaven when you, find romance on your menu
What a diff'rence a day made
And the difference is you
The lyrics in Dinah Washington's song "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" evoke a powerful contrast between the past and present, and how quickly things can change for the better. The opening line "What a diff'rence a day made" sets the tone for the song, referring to a mere 24 hours that in this case, brought sunshine and flowers after a period of rain. The use of natural imagery creates a feeling of positivity and growth that contrasts with the previous day's sadness.
The lyrics emphasize the power of love and how it can dramatically improve one's life. The singer laments her past loneliness, but now that she has found love, "my yesterday was blue, dear / today I'm part of you, dear / my lonely nights are through, dear / since you said you were mine." The repetition of "dear" emphasizes the closeness she feels to her partner, and the shift from past to present tense highlights the immediate difference love has made.
The final lines of the song reinforce the theme of love and its transformative power: "It's heaven when you find romance on your menu / what a diff'rence a day made / and the difference is you." The metaphor of finding romance on a menu suggests that love is a choice that one can actively seek out, and that once found, it can change one's life in profound ways.
Overall, "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" is a hopeful song that celebrates the transformative power of love and its ability to change one's life in just 24 hours.
Line by Line Meaning
What a diff'rence a day made
The significant change that happened because of what occurred within a day
Twenty-four little hours
The duration of time it took to experience this remarkable change
Brought the sun and the flowers
Refers to new beginnings and a happy change from misery into happiness
Where there used to be rain
The sad and unpleasant experiences of the past that are now gone
My yesterday was blue, dear
The sorrowful and lonely feelings of the past
Today I'm part of you, dear
The present feeling of being happily involved with a significant other
My lonely nights are through, dear
The end of solitary moments and beginning of being in the company of a loved one
Since you said you were mine
The commencement of being in a committed relationship
Lord what a diff'rence a day makes
Reiteration of the notable transformation that came in a day
There's a rainbow before me
A symbol of a bright and colorful future
Skies above can't be stormy
The negative feelings of the past have no influence on the present due to the newfound love
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
The beginning of a loving and romantic relationship, characterized by blissful and thrilling moments
It's heaven when you, find romance on your menu
The fulfillment and joy that come with being in a loving and committed relationship
What a diff'rence a day made
Reiteration of the significant change that happened because of what occurred within a day
And the difference is you
The significant other who brought about the positive change
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network, O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARIA GREVER, STANLEY ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valentinasungurlian1028
What a difference a day made, 24 little hours
Bought the sun and the flowers, where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue dear
Today I'm a part of you dear
My lonely nights are through dear
Since you said you were mine
And, what a difference a day made
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It's heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day made
And the difference is you (is you)
My yesterday was blue dear
Still I'm a part of you dear
My lonely nights are through dear
Since you said you were mine
Oh what a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It's heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day made
And the difference is you (is you, is you)
@shodanart
I heard this in 1959, now December 2020, I’m 74, still sounds heartfelt beauty, that gravelly, smoky voice! ❤️☺️❤️
@comment8852
That's too cool
@9Ballr
Have you heard 8-year-old Angelina's version? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSfgCIGd7k4
@dianahoward2717
@@9Ballr I was just going to
Post that same thing!
@9Ballr
@@dianahoward2717 Great minds think alike!
@michaeldugan3589
We can breathe again☮️
@estellajohnson9859
This is my mother and fathers wedding song. They made it together 50 beautiful years. I hope they dance to this in heaven now
@iekoom
That is touching! They are!!
@stormfield9431
@@iekoom beautiful
@michaeldugan3589
Teary-eyed now!