James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, on 25th January 1938, to an unmarried fourteen-year-old mother, Dorothy Hawkins. According to Etta, her mother claimed that her father was the white Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and that they received financial support from him on the condition that they keep his paternity a secret. This seems unlikely, though it has not been definitively disproved. Etta was born in Los Angeles in 1938. At the time, Wanderone was known to be managing a pool hall in Washington, D.C. and had not yet become known to be the cross-country traveller he later became.
She received her first professional vocal training at five years old from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Her family moved to San Francisco in 1950, and she teamed up with two other girls to form a doo-wop singing group. When the girls were fourteen, band leader Johnny Otis had them audition. They sang an answer to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie" called "Roll Wwth Me Henry". Otis particularly liked the song, and against her mother's wishes, James and the trio went to Los Angeles to record the song in 1954. The song was recorded on the label Modern Records. By this time, the trio renamed the song "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" and released it in 1955. James named her vocal group The Peaches. Richard Berry, a Los Angeles doo-wop luminary, is featured on some of their records.
"The Wallflower" reached number two on the rhythm and blues charts in February 1955, but was undercut in the wider market by a rushed-out cover version by Georgia Gibbs on Mercury Records; in fact, the very first time Gibbs was recorded in studio, they used the first take recorded and it became number one on the top 100 songs nationally. The song's royalties were divided between Hank Ballard, Etta James, and Johnny Otis, and its huge success attracted the attention of the R&B world, resulting in James going on tour with Little Richard. On the tour, though, according to James, she witnessed and experienced situations to which minors are not usually privy, and she allegedly acquired a drug habit.
Soon after the success of "Wallflower", The Peaches and James parted company, but this did not halt her career. Shecontinued to record and release albums throughout much of the decade, and enjoyed more success. Her follow-up, "Good Rockin' Daddy", became another fifties hit. Other songs however, such as "Tough Lover" and "W-O-M-A-N" failed to gain any significant success. James toured with Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Otis Redding in the fifties, and has cited Watson as the most significant influence on her style..
In 1960, James signed a recording contract with Chess Records. She went on to have the biggest success of her career from this label, recording her biggest and most memorable hits. Chess went into high gear with James, releasing many duets with her then boyfriend, the married Harvey Fuqua, who was the lead singer of the Moonglows. One of her duets with Fuqua, "If I Can't Have You", became a hit on the R&B charts in 1960. As a solo artist however, she had more enduring success. One of her first singles released by Chess in 1960 was called "All I Could Do Was Cry"; this blues number became a big hit on the R&B charts in 1960. Leonard Chess, one of the founders of Chess Records, helped James along the way. He saw the potential for her to go in a more pop-oriented direction, and she started recording more pop tunes for the label.
The year 1961 became a year of great change for James. In 1961 came the release of one of her first pop-oriented tunes called "At Last". The song became a big hit in 1961, reaching number two on the R&B charts. The song even went as far as twenty-two on the pop charts that year. It became her signature song. Other songs, such as "Trust in Me", also became hits, and the 1962 tune "Something's Got a Hold On Me" showed more of James' gospel side, a genre she had sung since childhood.
She had other big hits in the 1960s, but mainly on the R&B charts: the song "Pushover" in 1963 and "Stop the Wedding", "Fool That I Am", and "Don't Cry Baby", were hits for her between 1961 and 1963. Her 1963 album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at Nashville's "New Era" club, also gave her career a boost. James then became one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1960s, having many more top ten and top twenty hit singles. Performing in Memphis, Tennessee helped make her into a blues icon.
In 1967, James released her next hit single, "Tell Mama", and it became a top ten hit on the R&B charts. After a dry period of no hits for almost four years, the song once more made James a household name. The follow-up, "Security", was also a success, and proved that James had staying power on the charts again. Whilst less success came for James after this hit, she was still on the charts regularly and, despite the death of Leonard Chess, stayed with the Chess label into 1975. Towards the end of the Chess years though, she went into more rock-based songs. She recorded for many other labels, and continued to release albums, such as 1978's Deep In the Night on Atlantic Records.
Despite a dry period during the early to mid 1980s, James got back on track and began to record music again. She received accolades for her 1981 rendition of Randy Newman's "God's Song". Her 1988 album Seven Year Itch proved this comeback capability; the album showed more of her soul side. In 1989, she recorded the song "Avenue D" with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the Robert Wise film Rooftops. She also performed with the Grateful Dead for two shows in 1982. In the 1990s she continued to record and perform. Her albums widely varied in styles and genres. Her 1992 album, The Right Time, was another soul album that was released by Elektra Records. She also began to record more jazz, which became the style for many of her 1990s albums.
Drug-related and romantic problems interfered with her career, but James managed to maintain a career throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Later in life, she struggled with obesity, experiencing mobility and knee problems. In 2003, she underwent gastric bypass surgery.
In 2011, a vocal sample from Etta's "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was used in "Levels" by Avicii. "Levels" became a monster EDM hit, making Etta's "sometimes I get a good feeling" one of the most recognizable samples in 21st century music.
She died on 20th January 2012.
One for My Baby
Etta James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know
We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
I know the routine, put another nickel
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
The song "One for My Baby" is a classic torch song that is often performed as a ballad by various artists. The lyrics are about a man who is down on his luck and heartbroken. It is quarter to three and there is no one in the bar except for him and the bartender, Joe. The man asks Joe to pour him another drink because he has a story to tell. He orders one for himself, and one more for the road.
The man then reminisces about his recent troubles and heartache. He asks Joe to play slow and sad music and hints at having a lot of things to say but staying silent because it is not a gentleman's code. The man reveals that he is a kind of poet and if he is gloomy, then he hopes Joe will listen to him until he has talked himself out of it.
The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, and the man ultimately thanks Joe for the company but admits that the torch he carries has to be drowned or it will explode. The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and despair, but the man finds comfort in the presence of the bartender and the glass of alcohol.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's 2:45 AM and the bar is empty except for the singer and the bartender.
Except you and me
Only the bartender and the singer are in the bar.
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
The singer asks the bartender to pour another drink for her.
I think you should know
The artist wants to share a personal story with the bartender.
We're drinking my friend, to the end
The artist and bartender are drinking together to signify the end of something.
Of a brief episode
The thing they are toasting to has been brief but impactful.
Make it one for my baby
The singer wants the bartender to pour one last drink for her as a sort of farewell.
And one more for the road
The artist requests one more drink to take with her on her journey.
I know the routine, put another nickel
The artist is familiar with the jukebox and how to select music.
In the machine
The music the artist wants to hear is on the jukebox.
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
The singer is feeling emotional and wants to hear something to match her mood.
Easy and sad
The artist wants music that is simple and melancholic.
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
The singer wants to confide in the bartender, but there are some things she cannot tell him due to societal expectations.
In a gentleman's code
There are certain unspoken rules of conduct that must be followed in polite society.
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
The singer reveals that she has a creative side that most people do not see.
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
The artist has a lot of thoughts and feelings that she wants to express.
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
The artist asks the bartender to listen to her even if she is feeling down.
Till it's talked away
Talking about her problems will help the singer feel better.
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
The singer acknowledges that it is getting late and the bar will be closing soon.
Anxious to close
The artist understands that the bartender wants to close up shop for the night.
Thanks for the cheer
The artist is grateful for the bartender's company and support throughout the night.
I hope you didn't mind
The artist hopes that she did not burden the bartender with her problems.
My bending your ear
The singer recognizes that she has been speaking at length to the bartender.
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
The artist needs to let go of something that has been burning within her.
Or it's gonna explode
If the singer does not release her emotions and thoughts, they will build up and have negative consequences.
Writer(s): Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen Copyright: Harwin Music Co.
Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paidd00
Sono le tre meno un quarto, non c'è nessuno in casa tranne te e me
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place except you and me
Allora, sistemali, Joe, ho una storiella che penso dovresti sapere
So, set 'em up, Joe, I got a little story I think you should know
Stiamo bevendo, amico mio, fino alla fine di un breve episodio
We're drinkin', my friend, to the end of a brief episode
Ne faccio uno per il mio bambino e un altro per la strada
Make it one for my baby and one more for the road
Ho ottenuto la routine, ho messo un altro nichel nella macchina
I got the routine, put another nickel in the machine
Mi sento così male, vorrei che tu rendessi la musica facile e triste
Feelin' so bad, wish you'd make the music easy and sad
Potrei dirti molto, ma devi essere fedele al tuo codice
I could tell you a lot, but you've got to be true to your code
Ne faccio solo uno per il mio bambino e un altro per la strada
Just make it one for my baby and one more for the road
Non lo sapresti mai, ma amico, sono una specie di poeta
You'd never know it but buddy, I'm a kind of poet
E ho un sacco di cose che vorrei dire
And I got a lot of things I'd like to say
E quando sono cupo, non mi ascolterai?
And when I'm gloomy, won't you listen to me?
'Til è tutto parlato via
'Til it's all talked away
Bene, è così che va e Joe
Well, that's how it goes and Joe
So che stai diventando ansioso di chiudere
I know you're gettin' anxious to close
Quindi, grazie per l'allegria, spero non ti sia dispiaciuto se ho piegato il tuo orecchio
So, thanks for the cheer, I hope you didn't mind my bendin' your ear
Ma questa torcia che ho trovato deve essere annegata o presto potrebbe esplodere
But this torch that I found must be drowned or it soon might explode
Quindi, fanne uno per il mio bambino e un altro per la strada
So, make it one for my baby and one more for the road
Il lungo, è così lungo
The long, it's so long
Il lungo, lunghissimo
@bigm9937
Her interpretation of this song is perfect . She's gives you a visual picture of the story .It might as well have been a movie scene .The great ones always have the ability to tell a story.Probably my loved favorite song of Etta . It's a crafty masterpiece really.
@biaedwards4025
Love Etta's voice and passion.
@aseretkavon
Etta is very clear and concise with her diction when she sings. Almost TOO concise for my tastes, especially considering we're talking the genre of Jazz, where everything is so smooth an fluid with each other, but I still LOVE her singing!
@tan_ya_
Truly timeless
@mooglesrgreat
This is one of my favorite songs.
@judithfournier6914
Unbelievable this woman rocks.....
@Mimosa1948
Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday sang this song. Etta sat at the bar and talked to the bartender. She told him about a fling that was more than that. She experienced the loss of that passing love that we all experience but few can express.
@direfranchement
Probably the best version of this song ever recorded. Sorry Billie.
@byellisjohnson
Agreed
@CanisLupus123
Classic!