Born Joseph Edward Filipelli in Brooklyn, New York, United States, over a long career, he played on many albums, retired to Florida for fifteen years, came back to music, and recorded a CD for Verve Records when he was in his 80s. Phillips performed in a variety of genres, including bebop, mainstream jazz, swing, jump blues and East Coast blues.
In the mid-1940s, Phillips was one of the anchors of the Woody Herman band, prior to going out on his own and prior to joining Jazz at the Philharmonic. He also played with the Woodchoppers, a small spin-off group that Herman led. His deep, strong and articulate playing with a very full sound contrasted him to his successors such as Stan Getz in the subsequent Herman bands.
Phillips recorded extensively for Clef Records, now Verve, in the 1940s and 1950s, including a 1949 album of small-group tracks under his leadership, with Buddy Morrow, Tommy Turk, Kai Winding, Sonny Criss, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne. He accompanied Billie Holiday on her 1952 Billie Holiday Sings album.
Phillips was a frequent player at the Odessa Jazz Party in Odessa, Texas, from 1971 to 1991.
Flip Phillips died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in August 2001, at the age of 86
Singin' In The Rain
Flip Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a glorious feeling I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds so dark above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
I'll walk down the lane with a happy refrain
And singin' just singin' in the rain
Why am I smilin' and why do I sing?
Why does December seem sunny as Spring?
Why do I get up each morning to start happy
And get up with joy in my heart?
Why is each new task a trifle to do?
Because I am living a life full of you
I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain
What a glorious feeling I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds so dark above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
I'll walk down the lane with a happy refrain
And singin' just singin' in the rain
The lyrics to "Singin' in the Rain" by Flip Phillips capture the joy and happiness that can come from simply embracing life and finding beauty in even the rainiest of days. The singer starts off by expressing their sheer delight in singing and dancing in the rain, and how it makes them feel truly happy again. They then go on to describe how even dark clouds and storms above can't bring them down because they have the sun in their heart and are ready for love. The chorus is a celebration of rain and how it can wash away any negativity or sadness, as the singer sings confidently and joyfully down the lane.
The second verse provides an answer to the question posed in the first line: why are they always singing and so full of joy? The answer is that they are living a life full of someone else, who brings them endless happiness and motivation to start each day. This person is the reason why even the most mundane tasks seem effortless and enjoyable for the singer. The key message in this verse is the importance of having someone in life who brings you that kind of happiness and positivity.
Overall, "Singin' in the Rain" is a song about finding joy in the simple things, and embracing life to the fullest, no matter what the weather is like outside.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain
I am joyfully expressing myself irrespective of any obstacles or circumstances
What a glorious feeling I'm happy again
I am filled with happiness and contentment
I'm laughing at clouds so dark above
I am able to overcome even the toughest of challenges and find joy in the face of adversity
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
My heart is full of love and positivity, and I am eagerly looking forward to any new experiences and opportunities that come my way
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Even in the midst of difficult situations, I am able to maintain my composure and remain optimistic
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
No matter what happens, I am always ready to face it with a positive attitude
I'll walk down the lane with a happy refrain
I am always looking for reasons to be happy and joyful, and I try to spread that happiness to those around me
And singin' just singin' in the rain
Through all of life's ups and downs, I will continue to express myself and find joy in everything around me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind