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.
When A Woman Loves A Man
Dinah Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just another man
Doing what he can
But what does she care
When a woman loves a man
She'll just string along
All through thick and thin
It's always that way
When a woman loves a man
She'll be the first one to praise him when he's goin' strong
The last one to blame him when every thing's wrong
It's such a one-sided game that they play
Ah, but women are funny that way
Tell her, she's a fool
She'll say, "Yes, I know
But I love him so"
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
Tell her, she's a fool
She'll say, "Yes, I know
But I love him so"
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
In "When a Woman Loves a Man," Dinah Washington explores the complex and often unequal dynamic of romantic relationships. The lyrics are an ode to the sacrifices that women make for the men they love, even when society sees them as "just another man" who may not amount to much. The song suggests that when a man is loved by a woman, he becomes someone special to her, and she will stand by him through thick and thin, even when he is not at his best.
The first paragraph sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Washington emphasizes that a woman's love is not fickle or shallow. She doesn't care if the man is not perfect or successful by society's standards; as long as she loves him, that's all that matters. The second verse explains that a woman will stick with her man through all of life's challenges until his "ship comes in," or until he becomes successful. This line reveals the expectation that men will inevitably become successful at some point, and it is the woman's duty to support and uplift him until then.
The chorus highlights the one-sided nature of the game that women play when they love a man. They are the first to praise him when he does well, but the last to blame him when things go wrong. The lyrics suggest that women are deluded and foolish when they love a man, but they cannot help themselves. The final paragraph repeats the earlier sentiment that women will acknowledge their own foolishness when it comes to love, but they will still love a man even when they know it is not in their best interest.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he's not much
Despite his shortcomings, she loves him unconditionally.
Just another man
To the world, he may be insignificant, but to her he means everything.
Doing what he can
He may not be perfect, but he's trying his best.
But what does she care
She loves him regardless of what the world thinks of him.
When a woman loves a man
Her love and devotion knows no bounds.
She'll just string along
She'll stand by him through every challenge.
All through thick and thin
She's loyal to him through the highs and lows.
Till his ship comes in
She'll support him until he achieves his dreams.
It's always that way
This is the nature of love – unwavering and steadfast.
She'll be the first one to praise him when he's goin' strong
She supports him when he's successful.
The last one to blame him when every thing's wrong
She defends and protects him even when he's wrong.
It's such a one-sided game that they play
Love is not always fair or equal, but it's worth it.
Ah, but women are funny that way
Women can be unpredictable in love, but it's their strength.
Tell her, she's a fool
Even when told she's making a mistake, she continues to love him.
She'll say, "Yes, I know
She's aware of the risks of loving him, but she can't help it.
But I love him so"
Her love for him is greater than any risk or fear.
And that's how it goes
Love is unpredictable, but it's worth every moment.
When a woman loves a man
Her love for him knows no bounds.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, GORDON JENKINS, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victoire1948
beau cadeau.....le 9 décembre 2014