Born in tiny North, South Carolina to Mamie Kitt, who was of Cherokee and African-American descent, and an American father (surname Kitt) of German and Dutch descent, she was raised by her maternal aunt Anna Mae Riley, whom she believed was her mother up until after Riley's death, when she was sent to live in New York City with her real mother.
Kitt began her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A talented singer with a distinctive voice, her hits include Let's Do It, C'est Si Bon (It's So Good), Just an Old Fashioned Girl, Monotonous, Love for Sale, I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch, Uska Dara, Mink, Schmink, Under the Bridges of Paris, and arguably her most recognizable hit, the sexily sung Christmas song Santa Baby. She sang quite a few songs in French, a language she picked up during her years performing in Europe, but she never lost her American accent, which made her French songs sound rather amusing to native French speakers. She dabbled in other languages as well, which she demonstrated in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.
In 1950, Orson Welles gave her her first starring role, as Helen of Troy in his staging of Dr. Faustus. A few years later, she was cast in the revue New Faces of 1952, introducing "Monotonous", "C'est Si Bon" and "Santa Baby", three songs with which she continues to be identified. During her run, 20th Century Fox filmed a version of the play. Welles and Kitt allegedly had a torrid affair during her run in Shinbone Alley, which earned her the nickname by Welles as "the most exciting woman in the world". In 1958, Kitt made her feature film debut opposite Sidney Poitier in The Mark of the Hawk. Throughout the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s, Kitt would work on and off in film, television and on nightclub stages. In the late 1960s television series Batman, she played Catwoman after Julie Newmar left the role. This was the role for which she would best be remembered, owing to her purring feline drawl.
In 1968, however, Kitt encountered a substantial professional setback after she made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon that reportedly made First Lady Lady Bird Johnson weep uncontrollably. Professionally exiled from the U.S., she devoted her energies to overseas performances before returning to New York in a triumphant turn in the Broadway spectacle Timbuktu! (a version of the perennial Kismet set in Africa) in 1978. In the musical, one song gives a 'recipe' for mahoun, a preparation of cannabis, in which her sultry purring rendition of the refrain "constantly stirring with a long wooden spoon" was distinctive.
In 1984, she returned to hit music with a dance song, Where Is My Man; the first certified Gold record of her career. Kitt found new audiences in nightclubs across the country, including a whole new generation of gay male fans, and she responded by frequently giving benefit performances in support of HIV/AIDS organizations.
In 2000, Kitt again returned to Broadway in the short but notable run of the revival of the 1920s-themed, The Wild Party, opposite Mandy Patinkin and Toni Collette. In 2003, she replaced Chita Rivera in Nine. In recent years she had also appeared as the Wicked Witch in the North American national touring company of The Wizard of Oz.
One of her more unusual roles was as Kaa the python in a 1994 BBC Radio adaptation of The Jungle Book. Kitt lent her distinctive voice to the role of Yzma in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove and also did other voiceover work such as the voice of Queen Vexus on the animated TV series My Life as a Teenage Robot. She continued her role as Yzma on the spin-off TV series of The Emperor's New Groove, The Emperor's New School.
In recent years, Kitt's annual appearances in New York made her a fixture of the Manhattan cabaret scene. She took the stage at venues such as the Ballroom and, more recently, the Cafรฉ Carlyle to explore and define her highly stylized image, alternating between signature songs (such as "Old Fashioned Millionaire"), which emphasized a witty, mercenary world-weariness, and less familiar repertoire, much of which she performed with an unexpected ferocity and bite that presented her as a survivor with a seemingly bottomless reservoir of resilience - her version of Here's to Life, frequently used as a closing number, was a sterling example of the latter. This side of her later performances is reflected in at least one of her recordings, Thinking Jazz, which preserves a series of performances with a small jazz combo that took place in the early 1990s in Germany, and which includes both standards (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes) and numbers (such as Something May Go Wrong) that seem more specifically tailored to her talents; one version of the CD includes as bonus performances a fierce, angry Yesterdays and a live take of "C'est Si Bon" that good-humoredly satirizes her sex-kitten persona.
Personal life
Kitt was married to John William McDonald, an associate of a real-estate investment company, from 1960 to 1965. They had one child, a daughter, Kitt (b. 1962, married Charles Lawrence Shapiro); and two grandchildren, Jason and Rachel Shapiro.
Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer on Christmas Day, December 25, 2008.
Just an Old Fashioned Girl
Eartha Kitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not sophisticated, I'm the plain and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'd like a plain simple car, a cerise Cadillac
Long enough to have a bowling alley in the back
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
I'll stay weaving at my loom
Be no trouble to my groom
If he'll keep the piles of money mounting
In our cottage there will be
A soundproof nursery
Not to wake the baby while I'm counting
I like the old fashioned flowers, violets are for me
Have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'm just a pilgrim at heart, oh so pure and genteel
Catch me in Las Vegas while I'm at the spinning wheel!
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'll ask for such simple things when my birthday occurs
Two apartment buildings that are labeled "Hers and Hers"
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I like Chopin and Bizet
And the songs of yesterday
String quartets and Polynesian carols
But the music that excels
Is the sound of oil wells
As they slurp, slurp, slurp into the barrels
My little home will be quaint as an old parasol
And instead of carpets I'll have money wall to wall
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
Eartha Kitt's song "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" describes a woman who has a traditional mindset and desires a simple lifestyle. She does not fancy modern sophistication and luxury. She wants an old fashioned house with a fence, an old fashioned millionaire, and an uncomplicated car, a cerise Cadillac. She is content with weaving at her loom and not being a burden on her husband. She has a soundproof nursery to avoid waking up her baby while she counts her husband's money. She loves old fashioned flowers, especially violets, and prefers diamonds made out of them by a jeweler at Tiffany.
The song portrays a woman who is happy with a life of simplicity and values the things that cannot be bought - loyalty, love, and family. She wants to spend her life in a home that reminds her of the past, a quiet place where she can find peace. The lyrics also show the singer's playful side, where she is open to visiting Las Vegas and enjoy the spinning wheel. The song paints an image of a lady who can exist in both the present and the past without being consumed by the need to conform to society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
I am not modern or up-to-date, and my views and attitudes towards life reflect a bygone era.
Not sophisticated, I'm the plain and simple kind
I am not complex or complicated; I am straightforward, uncomplicated, and uncompromisingly simple.
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence, And an old fashioned millionaire
My dreams and aspirations are of a time long gone; I want to live in the past with an old fashioned house, an old fashioned fence, and a rich man who shares my old fashioned views.
I'd like a plain simple car, a cerise Cadillac
I simply desire a basic car, except that I want it to be a pink Cadillac.
Long enough to have a bowling alley in the back
I want the car to be so big that it can have a bowling alley built in it because that's just how lavish and excessive I am.
I'll stay weaving at my loom
I will be content to engage in traditionally feminine activities such as weaving.
Be no trouble to my groom
I will not be a bother to my husband or cause him any inconvenience.
If he'll keep the piles of money mounting
As long as my husband continues to acquire wealth and money, I will be satisfied and won't bother him with anything else.
In our cottage there will be, A soundproof nursery, Not to wake the baby while I'm counting
Once I have a family, I want a quiet and peaceful place for them to sleep, so I can focus on counting our money.
I like the old fashioned flowers, violets are for me
Traditional and classic flowers such as violets are my preference.
Have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany
I want to be surrounded by luxury and extravagance, even when it comes to flowers, so I want them made out of diamonds by the famous jewelers, Tiffany.
I'm just a pilgrim at heart, oh so pure and genteel
Despite my desire for luxury and wealth, I am still a pure and genteel person deep down in my heart.
Catch me in Las Vegas while I'm at the spinning wheel!
Sometimes, I like to indulge in activities that go against my old-fashioned values, such as gambling in Las Vegas.
I'll ask for such simple things when my birthday occurs
Even when it comes to birthday gifts, I only require the basic and modest requests.
Two apartment buildings that are labeled "Hers and Hers"
My birthday wish is to own two adjacent apartment buildings, both belonging to me, of course!
I like Chopin and Bizet, And the songs of yesterday
I appreciate classical music, including the compositions of Chopin and Bizet, as well as the old songs from the past.
String quartets and Polynesian carols
I enjoy a variety of music, from classical string quartets to Polynesian carols, all of which are of the highest quality.
But the music that excels, Is the sound of oil wells, As they slurp, slurp, slurp into the barrels
Despite my appreciation of various genres of music, the sound of drilling oil wells is the most pleasant sound I can think of, as it symbolizes the acquisition of even greater fortune.
My little home will be quaint as an old parasol
Even though I desire luxury and opulence, I still want my home to be small and delicate like an old parasol.
And instead of carpets I'll have money wall to wall
Instead of traditional carpets, I want the floors of my home to be covered in money, demonstrating my insatiable desire for wealth.
Lyrics ยฉ MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: MARVE A FISHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hannah Jessup
I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the plain and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'd like a plain simple car, a cerise Cadillac
Long enough to have a bowling alley in the back
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'll stay weaving at my loom
Be no trouble to my groom
If he'll keep the piles of money mounting
In our cottage there will be
A soundproof nursery
Not to wake the baby while I'm counting
I like the old fashioned flowers, violets are for me
Have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'm just a pilgrim at heart, oh so pure and genteel
Catch me in Las Vegas while I'm at the spinning wheel!
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'll ask for such simple things when my birthday occurs
Two apartment buildings that are labeled "Hers and Hers"
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I like Chopin and Bizet
And the songs of yesterday
String quartets and Polynesian carols
But the music that excels
Is the sound of oil wells
As they slurp, slurp, slurp into the barrels
My little home will be quaint as an old parasol
And instead of carpets I'll have money wall to wall
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
Robert Billing
Her voice control is fantastic. When she switches from being "sweet" to talking about money the overtones click on as if she'd pressed a switch. That's real skill.
Zoe Cox
Della Reece
adonai yah
It's not rocket science ๐
meau
adonai yah kind of is though, not that youโd know I guess
adonai yah
@meau how dare you even speak to me in such a sarcastic and condescending way.
Karen A T
@adonai yah Wot, are you the Queen of England?
Such beautiful singing takes talent and effort.
Nehemiah Roberts
I never heard a voice like this. What very unique control on the way she pitches her voice and that vibrato is crazy quick
Napoleon Dynamite
I adored this lass in the 1950s when I was ten years old. I wrote a short essay on her struggle when she was younger and racially abused. My words were read out in class and my teacher, the late Clarice Harding, gave me top marks.
{Jackson Family }
I love how she pokes fun..so sarcastically brillant.
Hannah Jessup
I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the plain and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'd like a plain simple car, a cerise Cadillac
Long enough to have a bowling alley in the back
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'll stay weaving at my loom
Be no trouble to my groom
If he'll keep the piles of money mounting
In our cottage there will be
A soundproof nursery
Not to wake the baby while I'm counting
I like the old fashioned flowers, violets are for me
Have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'm just a pilgrim at heart, oh so pure and genteel
Catch me in Las Vegas while I'm at the spinning wheel!
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I'll ask for such simple things when my birthday occurs
Two apartment buildings that are labeled "Hers and Hers"
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire
I like Chopin and Bizet
And the songs of yesterday
String quartets and Polynesian carols
But the music that excels
Is the sound of oil wells
As they slurp, slurp, slurp into the barrels
My little home will be quaint as an old parasol
And instead of carpets I'll have money wall to wall
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire