She is noted for her elegant interpretations of standards, ballads, and blues. Her characteristic inflections have sometimes prompted comparisons to stylistic devices employed by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Jones' recordings, particularly her debut record (Don't Go To Strangers, 1960), have earned wide admiration in a new generation of listeners.
She had three Grammy nominations, for the Don't Go to Strangers LP in 1960, Save Your Love for Me in 1981, and My Buddy in 1999.
Jones had a musical partnership of more than thirty years with tenor sax player Houston Person, who received equal billing with her. He also produced her albums and served as her manager.
Jones was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem. She died at the age of 72 from cancer. She was survived by her husband, John Medlock, and a granddaughter.
If You Were Mine
Etta Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be a ruler of kings
And if you were mine
I could do such wonderful things
I'd say to a star
Stop where you are
Light up my lover's way
Would obey, say
If you were mine
I would live for your love alone
To kneel at your shrine
I would give up all that I own
Yes even my heart
Even my life
I'd trade it all for you
And think I was lucky too
If you were mine
The lyrics of "If You Were Mine" by Etta Jones are a testament to the power of love and the lengths to which one would go to attain it. The song is essentially a love letter from the singer to the object of their affection, in which they express their desire to do anything and everything for them. The opening lines, "If you were mine, I could be a ruler of kings" immediately establish the idea that the singer feels that having the love of the person they are singing to would make them invincible. They are willing to give up everything for this person, as evidenced in the lines "To kneel at your shrine, I would give up all that I own," even going so far as to offer their heart and their life.
The singer also imagines a world where they have the power to make the stars do their bidding, all for the sake of the person they love. The lines "I'd say to a star, Stop where you are, light up my lover's way, and every star above you would obey" are a poetic representation of the overwhelming nature of the singer's love. They truly believe that anything is possible if only they could be with the person they desire.
Line by Line Meaning
If you were mine
The singer desires to have the person they are in love with to themselves.
I could be a ruler of kings
The singer believes that having the person they are in love with would give them great power and influence.
And if you were mine
Reiteration of the singer's desire to have the person they are in love with to themselves.
I could do such wonderful things
The artist believes that if they had the person they are in love with, they could achieve great things.
I'd say to a star
The artist is illustrating the extent of their desire and passion by stating that they would have the power to command the celestial bodies.
Stop where you are
The singer wants the stars to listen to their command and wait for the singer's lover to pass by.
Light up my lover's way
The singer desires to make their lover's journey through life easier and full of light and happiness.
And every star above you
The artist is emphasizing the power they would have if they had their lover.
Would obey, say
The artist believes that if they had their lover, everything and everyone would follow their orders.
If you were mine
Reiteration of the artist's desire to have the person they are in love with to themselves.
I would live for your love alone
The singer states that if they were with their lover, their lover's love would be the only thing they need to survive and thrive.
To kneel at your shrine
The artist would devoutly worship and pay homage to their lover if they were with them.
I would give up all that I own
The singer is willing to sacrifice everything they possess for their lover.
Yes even my heart
The singer is willing to give up their very being for their lover.
Even my life
The singer is willing to give up their own life for their lover.
I'd trade it all for you
The artist's willingness to give up everything they have is an indication of their intense love and devotion for their lover.
And think I was lucky too
The artist believes that they would be fortunate to have their lover reciprocate their feelings.
If you were mine
Reiteration of the singer's desire to have the person they are in love with to themselves.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER, MATT MALNECK, MATTY MALNECK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind