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.
Out Of The Rain
Etta James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been so long where the sun don't shine
Standing at the cross-roads, could have went either way
But now I've found you and the storm is behind
Out of the rain, out of the rain
Over the wall, I'm out in the open
You took a sparrow and let it fly with the eagles
I can see a long ways I feel love again
Out of the rain, out of the rain
There was a time I was taking no prisoners
Standing with a cold hear, standing alone
It took your sweet love to pull me out of the canyon
I believe I can make it now, I feel like I belong
Out of the rain, out of the rain
Out of the rain, out of the rain
The song "Out Of The Rain" by Etta James is a powerful expression of gratitude for a new relationship that has rescued her from a bleak and difficult time in her life. The metaphor of rain is used throughout the song as a symbol of the hardships and struggles she has faced, but now she has found shelter and safety with her new partner. She sings about being lost and directionless, standing at the crossroads of life and unsure which path to take. But with the help of her lover, she has found her way and is once again able to see the beauty in life and love.
The lyrics also convey a sense of personal growth and transformation. Before she met her partner, she describes herself as having a "cold heart," and being someone who took no prisoners. But now she has learned how to love again and feels like she belongs. The transformation is also reflected in the change of perspective from being enclosed and hiding from the rain to now being out in the open and feeling no pain. Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the healing power of love and the transformative effect it can have on a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the rain, under the shelter
I have finally found refuge and protection from the endless troubles I've faced.
I've been so long where the sun don't shine
I've been trapped in a place of darkness and sadness for such a long time that I've forgotten what it feels like to see the light.
Standing at the cross-roads, could have went either way
I was at a critical juncture in my life where I could have easily gone down a dark path or a brighter one, and it was anyone's guess as to which way I would choose.
But now I've found you and the storm is behind
But then I met you, and suddenly, all the storms and troubles of my past didn't seem so insurmountable anymore.
Over the wall, I'm out in the open
I finally broke free from the confines that imprisoned me, and I am now free to explore new things.
Back on the right tracks, I'm feeling no pain
I am finally headed in the right direction, and the burdens that once weighed me down are no longer there.
You took a sparrow and let it fly with the eagles
You took someone of small stature and limited capacity and helped them achieve something great beyond their wildest dreams.
I can see a long ways I feel love again
I can finally see a future for myself and I have rediscovered the feeling of love that seemed so elusive before.
There was a time I was taking no prisoners
There was a time when I was cold, unforgiving, and held everything and everyone at a distance.
Standing with a cold hear, standing alone
I was alone in my world, with no real affection, companionship or warmth.
It took your sweet love to pull me out of the canyon
But then you came along with your sweetness, and you helped me overcome the deep and dark depression I once had.
I believe I can make it now, I feel like I belong
Now I believe I can achieve anything, and I feel like I have finally found my place in the world.
Out of the rain, out of the rain
This phrase acts as an overarching chorus that represents the sense of liberation and renewal that the singer feels throughout the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TONY JOE WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@popeipoparrot2951
LYRICS:
Out of the rain, under the shelter
I've been so long where the sun don't shine
Standing at the crossroad, oh, could have went either way
But now I've found you and the storm is behind
Out of the rain, out of the rain, oh yeah, oh
Over the wall, I'm out in the open
Back on the right track, I'm feeling no pain
You took a sparrow, let it fly like an eagle
I can see long ways, I feel love again
Out of the rain, out of the rain
It took your sweet love to pull me out of the canyon
And I believe I can make it now, I feel like I belong
Out of the rain, out of the rain
Out of the rain
Out of the rain, out of the rain
Out of the rain
Out of the rain, I'm out of the rain
Feeling no pain, I'm out of the rain
Clean out of the rain
Out of the rain
@kingcola9293
this song is a masterpiece, etta james only got better with time. one of the best songs ever.
@larsgsanger3105
❤️🇸🇪
@3579prime
This song reaches down inside and pulls me up into the light. It's such an incredible tribute to hope... and faith that it just can't rain all the time.
@rennyshelton
She not only felt it, she made damn sure you did too.
@donniedillehay981
Amen and AMEN !
@johnking5934
made me cry man, the meaning of this song is powerful, she delivered the message as beautifully and powerfully as only she could. I felt it from my head to my toes. Beautiful .
@edd2ds
This song was written by the great Tony Joe White. It must have been written just for Miss Etta to cover. I love the way she brings up the power of her magnificent voice to phrase the lyric, "Out of the rain....". Nobody could have done this song justice the way she did. God rest you, Miss Etta. I love you still.
@phillipsmith4171
Much as I love this version and Etta James. I like the the Jessie Coulter, Waylon Jennings and Tony Joe White version more.
@larsgsanger3105
❤️
@1dakotadog1
Today would have been Etta's 74th birthday.Happy Birthday Etta wherever you are at!!