Born in West Hampstead in London to a family that enjoyed music, Springfield learned to sing at home. In 1958, she joined her first professional group, the Lana Sisters. Two years later, with her brother Dion O'Brien ("Tom Springfield") and Tim Feild, she formed the folk-pop vocal trio the Springfields. Two of their five 1961–63 Top 40 UK hits – "Island of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There"–reached No. 5 on the charts, both in the spring of 1963. In 1962, they also achieved success in the United States with their cover of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles". Her solo career began in late 1963 with the upbeat pop record "I Only Want to Be with You"—a UK No. 4 hit, and the first of her six transatlantic Top 40 hits in the 1960s, along with "Stay Awhile" (1964), "All I See Is You" (1966), "I'll Try Anything" (1967), and two releases which are now considered her signature songs: "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (1966 UK No. 1/US No. 4) and "Son of a Preacher Man" (1968/69 UK No. 9/US No. 10). The latter is featured on the 1968 pop and soul album Dusty in Memphis, one of Springfield's defining works. In March 2020, the US Library of Congress added the album to the National Recording Registry, which preserves audio recordings considered to be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Between 1964 and 1969, Springfield enjoyed success in her native United Kingdom with several singles which in America either failed to chart or were not released, among them being "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (the biggest of her many Burt Bacharach/Hal David covers), "In the Middle of Nowhere", "Some of Your Lovin'", "Goin' Back", and "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten". Conversely, she charted in the US (but not in the UK) with hits including "Wishin' and Hopin'", "The Look of Love", and "The Windmills of Your Mind". From 1971 to 1986, she failed to register a hit from five album releases (aside from a minor 1979 UK chart appearance), but her 1987 collaboration with UK synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", took her back near the top of the charts, reaching No. 2 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration yielded two 1989 UK Top 20 hits: "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "In Private". In 1990, Springfield charted with "Reputation"–the last of 25 UK Top 40 hits in which she features.
A fixture on British television, Springfield presented many episodes of the popular 1963–66 British TV music series Ready Steady Go! and, between 1966 and 1969, hosted her own series on the BBC and ITV. In 1966, she topped popularity polls, including Melody Maker's "Best International Vocalist", and was the first UK singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for best female singer. She has been inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the UK Music Hall of Fame. Multiple critics and polls have lauded Springfield as one of the greatest female singers in popular music.
Studio albums
A Girl Called Dusty (1964)
Stay Awhile/I Only Want To Be With You (1964)
Dusty (1964)
Ooooooweeee!!! (1965)
Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty (1965)
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (1966)
Where Am I Going? (1967)
The Look Of Love (1967)
Dusty... Definitely (1968)
Dusty in Memphis (1969)
A Brand New Me (1970)
See All Her Faces (1972)
Cameo (1973)
It Begins Again (1978)
Living Without Your Love (1979)
White Heat (1982)
Reputation (1990)
A Very Fine Love (1995)
Faithful (2015, recorded in 1971)
Mama Said
Dusty Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama said there'll be days like this
There'll be days like this, my mama said
(Mama said, mama said)
Mama said there'll be days like this
There'll be days like this, my mama said
I went walkin' the other day, yeah
And then I met a little boy named Billy-Joe
And then I almost lost my mind, come on
[Chorus]
My eyes were wide open
All that I could see, yeah
The chapel bells were tollin'
For everybody but me
But I don't worry 'cause
[Chorus]
And then she said
Someone would look at me
Like I'm lookin' at you
One day
Then I might find
I don't want you any old way
So, don't worry, 'cause
Mama said there'll be days like this
There'll be days like this, my mama said
(Mama said, mama said)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Mama said there'll be days like this
There'll be days like this, my mama said
Oh, yeah
(Mama said, mama said)
Don't worry, yeah, don't worry, now, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't worry, worry, now, now, now
Don't you worry
The lyrics of Dusty Springfield's song "Mama Said" explore the ups and downs of life and provide words of encouragement to those going through challenging times. The chorus repeats the comforting words of the singer's mother that there will be difficult days in life, but they will pass. The singer recounts a day when she was walking and met a little boy named Billy-Joe, which threw her off course and almost made her lose her mind. She mentions that while everyone else seemed to be happy and getting married (as implied by the tolling chapel bells), she felt left out. However, her mother's advice keeps her from despairing, explaining that someone will someday love her just as she loves Billy-Joe.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama said there'll be days like this
Life won't be perfect and there will be difficult days
There'll be days like this, my mama said
Mother has warned about these days before
Mama said there'll be days like this
Reminder that life can be tough
There'll be days like this, my mama said
Mother's advice is ringing in the mind
I went walkin' the other day, yeah
Narrator takes us through her day
Everything was goin' fine
The day was going smoothly
And then I met a little boy named Billy-Joe
Narrator meets someone new
And then I almost lost my mind, come on
She's so excited, she almost lost control
My eyes were wide open
She was paying attention to her surroundings
All that I could see, yeah
Her focus was on what she saw
The chapel bells were tollin'
She could hear the sound of bells
For everybody but me
She felt like she wasn't included
But I don't worry 'cause
But she doesn't let it get to her
Someone would look at me
Mother's words still ring in her mind
Like I'm lookin' at you
Reminds her of how she's currently feeling
One day
She believes that this feeling won't last forever
Then I might find
She might find someone who feels the same way about her
I don't want you any old way
Emphasizes the importance of finding someone who loves her unconditionally
So, don't worry, 'cause
Mother's advice once again brings her comfort
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Expresses excitement and positivity
Oh, yeah
Confirms her belief in her mother's advice
Don't worry, worry, now, now, now
Reiterates the importance of not worrying
Don't you worry
Final reminder to not worry about life's difficulties
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Luther Dixon, Willie Denson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Lisa Dillan - Lyrics
When I said, I needed you
You said you would always stay
It wasn't me who changed, but you
And now you've gone away
Don't you see that now you're gone
And I'm left here on my own
Then I have to follow you
And beg you to come home
You don't have to say you love me
Just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand
Believe me,
I can't help but love you
But believe me, I'll never tie you down
Left alone with just a memory
Life seems dead and so unreal
All that's left is loneliness
There's nothing left to feel
You don't have to say you love me
Just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand
Believe me, believe me
You don't have to say you love me
Just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand
Believe me, believe me. Believe me…