Ella Mae Morse was born in Mansfield, Texas, United States. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old. Dorsey believed she was 19, and when he was informed by the school board that he was now responsible for her care, he fired her. In 1942, at the age of 17, she joined Freddie Slack's band, with whom in the same year she recorded "Cow Cow Boogie", Capitol Records' first gold single. "Mr. Five by Five" was also recorded by Morse with Slack, and they had a hit recording with the song in 1942 (Capitol 115). She also originated the wartime hit "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet", which was later popularized by Nancy Walker in the film, Broadway Rhythm.
In 1943, Morse began to record solo. She reached #1 in the R&B chart with "Shoo-Shoo Baby" in December for two weeks. In the same year she performed "Cow Cow Boogie" in the film Reveille with Beverly and starred in Universal's South of Dixie and The Ghost Catchers with Olsen and Johnson and How Do You Dooo? with radio's Mad Russian, Bert Gordon. She sang in a wide variety of styles, and she had hits on both the U.S. pop and rhythm and blues charts. However, she never received the popularity of a major star because her versatility prevented her from being placed into any one category of music.
The song "Love Me or Leave Me" as recorded by Morse was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1922, with the flip side "Blacksmith Blues," which became her biggest hit.
In 1946, "House of Blue Lights" by Freddie Slack and Morse, (written by Slack and Raye) saw them perform what was one of many of Raye's songs picked up by black R&B artists. Her biggest solo success was "Blacksmith Blues" in 1952, which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The same year her version of "Down the Road a Piece" appeared on Capitol with Slack again on piano accompaniment. Morse also recorded a version of "Oakie Boogie" for Capitol which reached #23 in 1952. Her version was one of the first songs arranged by Nelson Riddle.
Morse ceased recording in 1957, but continued performing until the early 1990s at such clubs as Michael's Pub in New York, Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's Cinegrill and the Vine St. Bar and Grill. She appeared regularly at Disneyland for several years with the Ray McKinley Orchestra, and did a successful tour of Australia shortly before her final illness.
Her music career was profiled in Nick Tosches' 1984 book, The Unsung Heroes of Rock 'N' Roll: The Birth of Rock in the Wild Years Before Elvis. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1724 Vine Street. Her entire recorded body of work was issued in a deluxe box set by Bear Family Records.
As Morse's musical style blended jazz, blues, and country, she has sometimes been called the first rock 'n' roll singer. A good example is her 1942 recording of the song "Get On Board, Little Chillun", which, with strong gospel, blues, boogie, and jive sounds as a genuine precursor to the later rockabilly/ rock 'n roll songs. Her records sold well to both Caucasian and African-American audiences. As she was not well known at the time of her first solo hits, many people assumed she was African-American because of her 'hip' vocal style and choice of material.
Morse had six children from two marriages, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and an estranged sister named Flo Handy, who was also a singer.
In 1999 Morse died of respiratory failure in Bullhead City, Arizona, aged 75.
Ain't that a Shame
Ella Mae Morse Lyrics
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When you said goodbye
Ain't that a shame?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
You broke my heart
Ain't that a shame?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
You're the one to blame
You made me cry
When you said goodbye
Ain't that a shame?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
Oh, well good, goodbye
Although I'm gonna cry
Ain't that a shame?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
In "Ain't That a Shame," Ella Mae Morse sings about heartbreak after a breakup. In the first verse, she describes how her tears fell like rain when her lover said goodbye, implying that the breakup was sudden and unexpected. She repeats the chorus, expressing her feelings of sadness and betrayal, and blaming her lover for her heartbreak. The second verse repeats the theme of heartbreak and being left alone by her lover, again blaming them for her emotional pain. In the final verse, Morse struggles to say goodbye to her lover, realizing that it will only cause more tears to fall, but ultimately leaving with the knowledge that the lover is the one to blame for her heartbreak. The song is a classic example of a lament for a lost love and the emotions that come with the heartbreak of that loss.
Line by Line Meaning
You made me cry
You caused me to shed tears
When you said goodbye
When you bid me farewell
Ain't that a shame?
Isn't it regrettable?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
My tears cascaded like a downpour
Ain't that a shame?
Isn't it regrettable?
You're the one to blame
You're responsible for my sadness
You broke my heart
You shattered my feelings of love
When you said we'd part
When you told me we were separating
Oh, well good, goodbye
Well, then goodbye
Although I'm gonna cry
Despite the fact that I will cry
Ain't that a shame?
Isn't it regrettable?
Oh, my tears fell like rain
My tears cascaded like a downpour
Ain't that a shame?
Isn't it regrettable?
You're the one to blame
You're responsible for my sadness
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.