Dinah
Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France with Stephane Grapelli Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Carolina
Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.

News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,




I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Overall Meaning

The song Dinah by Django Reinhardt tells a story of a man from the state of Carolina who is proud to have Dinah in his life. He sings about the news of their wedding spreading and church bells ringing. He expresses his love and admiration for Dinah, describing her as someone finer than anyone else in the state of Carolina. He loves to sit and gaze into her Dixie eyes, but he also fears losing her affection. He imagines that if Dinah ever left him, he would go to great lengths to be with her, even if it meant travelling across the ocean to China. The song finishes with a repetition of the initial verses, reinforcing his love for Dinah and his fear of losing her.


Line by Line Meaning

Carolina
Reinhardt's place of origin


Gave me Dinah;
Met the love of his life in Carolina


I'm the proudest one
He feels immensely happy and honored to be with Dinah


Beneath the Dixie sun.
Under the sun of the southern United States


News is spreadin'
Word about their wedding is circulating


'Bout our weddin';
People are talking about their upcoming marriage


I hear church bells ringin',
The sound of wedding bells is in the air


Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
His heart is overflowing with love for Dinah


Dinah,
His beloved's name


Is there anyone finer
Asking if there is anyone better than Dinah


In the state of Carolina?
Referring to the women in his place of origin


If there is and you know her,
Challenging anyone who thinks they know someone better than Dinah


Show her!
Encouraging them to prove it


With her Dixie eyes blazin',
Describing the fire in Dinah's eyes


How I love to sit and gaze in
He enjoys staring at Dinah's eyes


To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
He loves everything about her, including her name


Yet, every night,
Despite his deep love, he worries


My, how I shake with fright,
He is afraid of losing Dinah's love


Because my Dinah might,
He fears that she may one day


Change her mind about me!
Stop loving him


But if Dinah,
Nonetheless


Ever wandered to China,
Even if she went as far as China


I would hop an ocean liner,
He would travel anywhere to be with her


Just to be with Dinah Lee!
He would do anything to be together with her




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Akst, Samuel M. Lewis, Joseph Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@PastPerfectVintageMusic

1. 00:00:00 Django Reinhardt Dinah
2. 00:02:38 Django Reinhardt I'm Confessin'
3. 00:05:37 Django Reinhardt Swanee River
4. 00:08:43 Django Reinhardt The Sunshine Of Your Smile
5. 00:11:40 Django Reinhardt Believe It, Beloved
6. 00:14:57 Django Reinhardt Chasing Shadows
7. 00:17:59 Django Reinhardt I've Had My Moments
8. 00:21:01 Django Reinhardt Some Of These Days
9. 00:23:28 Django Reinhardt I Got Rhythm
10. 00:26:29 Django Reinhardt The Sheik Of Araby
11. 00:29:38 Django Reinhardt It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
12. 00:32:45 Django Reinhardt Viper's Dream
13. 00:36:06 Django Reinhardt Runnin' Wild
14. 00:39:03 Django Reinhardt Ain't Misbehavin'
15. 00:42:01 Django Reinhardt Tears
16. 00:44:42 Django Reinhardt Miss Annabelle Lee
17. 00:47:33 Django Reinhardt Djangology
18. 00:50:31 Django Reinhardt Daphne
19. 00:53:46 Django Reinhardt Billets Doux
20. 00:56:44 Django Reinhardt Swing '39
21. 01:00:07 Django Reinhardt Tea For Two
22. 01:03:24 Django Reinhardt My Melancholy Baby
23. 01:06:16 Django Reinhardt The Younger Generation
24. 01:08:44 Django Reinhardt HCQ Strut



All comments from YouTube:

@PastPerfectVintageMusic

1. 00:00:00 Django Reinhardt Dinah
2. 00:02:38 Django Reinhardt I'm Confessin'
3. 00:05:37 Django Reinhardt Swanee River
4. 00:08:43 Django Reinhardt The Sunshine Of Your Smile
5. 00:11:40 Django Reinhardt Believe It, Beloved
6. 00:14:57 Django Reinhardt Chasing Shadows
7. 00:17:59 Django Reinhardt I've Had My Moments
8. 00:21:01 Django Reinhardt Some Of These Days
9. 00:23:28 Django Reinhardt I Got Rhythm
10. 00:26:29 Django Reinhardt The Sheik Of Araby
11. 00:29:38 Django Reinhardt It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
12. 00:32:45 Django Reinhardt Viper's Dream
13. 00:36:06 Django Reinhardt Runnin' Wild
14. 00:39:03 Django Reinhardt Ain't Misbehavin'
15. 00:42:01 Django Reinhardt Tears
16. 00:44:42 Django Reinhardt Miss Annabelle Lee
17. 00:47:33 Django Reinhardt Djangology
18. 00:50:31 Django Reinhardt Daphne
19. 00:53:46 Django Reinhardt Billets Doux
20. 00:56:44 Django Reinhardt Swing '39
21. 01:00:07 Django Reinhardt Tea For Two
22. 01:03:24 Django Reinhardt My Melancholy Baby
23. 01:06:16 Django Reinhardt The Younger Generation
24. 01:08:44 Django Reinhardt HCQ Strut

@jimmylim9735

Past Perfect

@jimmylim9735

Nice relaxing music over a glass or 2 with friends !

@Bamaboompa

Headphones in the dark.
Thank you.

@ludoheylen3861

Past Perfect Vintage Mus

@leenglish

Thanks for sharing this.

18 More Replies...

@jamesmoon8947

Wow I'm 71 yrs old, and was a rock and roll singer for years. Always loved this stuff.now as I'm older I love it more.

@rocketeerPM2500

I had the privilege of seeing Grappelli live in concert in Sydney (Australia) in the 1970's. He performed with such warmth and energy. Django Reinhardt plays with the same flair. A style that warms your heart, from a priceless era in music. RIP maestros.

@etiennefabiani9702

So lucky u were

@zeus-bx9xw

yeah i saw gary moore with Thin Lizzy at the Opera house 79..free concert..

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