Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers". He released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatra's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas, where he became one of its best known residency performers as part of The Rat Pack. His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours (1955), Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956), Come Fly with Me (1958), Only the Lonely (1958) and Nice 'n' Easy (1960).
Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label, Reprise Records, and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the retrospective September of My Years, starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, and released the tracks "Strangers in the Night" and "My Way". After releasing Sinatra at the Sands, recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim, the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was followed by 1968's collaboration with Duke Ellington. Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971, but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace, and reached success in 1980 with "New York, New York". Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998.
Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town (1949), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), and Pal Joey (1957), winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end of his career, he became associated with playing detectives, including the title character in Tony Rome (1967). Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s, and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, though before Kennedy's death Sinatra's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed.
While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had an impressive understanding of it, and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes". Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner. He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976. Sinatra had several violent confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After his death, American music critic Robert Christgau called him "the greatest singer of the 20th century", and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure.
Sinatra died with his wife at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 14, 1998, aged 82, after a heart attack. Sinatra had ill health during the last few years of his life, and was frequently hospitalized for heart and breathing problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia and bladder cancer. He was further diagnosed as having dementia. He had made no public appearances following a heart attack in February 1997. Sinatra's wife encouraged him to "fight" while attempts were made to stabilize him, and his final words were, "I'm losing." Sinatra's daughter, Tina, later wrote that she and her sister, Nancy, had not been notified of their father's final hospitalization, and it was her belief that "the omission was deliberate. Barbara would be the grieving widow alone at her husband's side." The night after Sinatra's death, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were turned blue, the lights at the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor, and the casinos stopped spinning for a minute.
Sinatra's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California, on May 20, 1998, with 400 mourners in attendance and thousands of fans outside. Gregory Peck, Tony Bennett, and Sinatra's son, Frank Jr., addressed the mourners, who included many notable people from film and entertainment. Sinatra was buried in a blue business suit with mementos from family members—cherry-flavored Life Savers, Tootsie Rolls, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, stuffed toys, a dog biscuit, and a roll of dimes that he always carried—next to his parents in section B-8 of Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.
His close friends Jilly Rizzo and Jimmy Van Heusen are buried nearby. The words "The Best Is Yet to Come", plus "Beloved Husband & Father" are imprinted on Sinatra's grave marker. Significant increases in recording sales worldwide were reported by Billboard in the month of his death.
If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the words of Shakespeare she's a "wow"
Though all of you may know her, too
I'd like to shout right now
Suzie has a perfect reputation
No one ever saw her on a spree
Nobody knows where Susie goes
If you knew Susie, like I know Susie
Oh! Oh! Oh! What a girl
There's none so classy
As this fair lassie
Oh! Oh! Holy Moses, what a chassis
We went riding, she didn't balk
Back from Yonkers
I'm the one that had to walk
If you knew Susie, like I know Susie
Oh! Oh! What a girl!
If you knew Susie, like I know Susie
Oh! Oh! Oh! What a girl
She wears long tresses
And nice tight dresses
Oh! Oh!
What a future she possesses
Out in public
How she can yawn
In a parlour, you would think the war was on
If you knew Susie, like I know Susie
Oh! Oh! What a girl!
Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly's song "If You Knew Susie" is a lively tune that tells the story of Susie, a fun-loving and gorgeous girl. The lyrics reveal that Susie is popular among many people, but the singer feels that he knows her best. He describes Susie as having a perfect reputation, and he admires her elegance and beauty. The song uses playful language and references to Shakespeare to praise Susie's beauty.
The lyrics go on to recount a time when the singer went on a ride with Susie, only to have her car stall, leaving him to walk back from Yonkers. Despite this mishap, the singer remains enamored with Susie because of her charm and charisma. He praises her style and physical attributes, saying that she possesses a great future. Overall, the song depicts Susie as a lovable and vivacious woman who captures the hearts of those around her.
Line by Line Meaning
I have got a sweetie known as Susie
I have a girlfriend named Susie
In the words of Shakespeare she's a 'wow'
Susie is very attractive
Though all of you may know her, too
Others may also know Susie
I'd like to shout right now
I want to express my admiration for Susie
Suzie has a perfect reputation
Susie has a spotless character
No one ever saw her on a spree
Susie does not engage in wild or reckless behavior
Nobody knows where Susie goes
Susie's whereabouts are a mystery to others
Nobody knows but me
Only I am aware of Susie's activities
If you knew Susie, like I know Susie
If you were aware of Susie's true nature
Oh! Oh! Oh! What a girl
You would be impressed by her
There's none so classy
Susie is exceptionally refined
As this fair lassie
As this beautiful woman
Oh! Oh! Holy Moses, what a chassis
Her physique is stunning
We went riding, she didn't balk
We went for a ride without any issues
Back from Yonkers
Returning from a location called Yonkers
I'm the one that had to walk
I had to walk back
She wears long tresses
Susie has long hair
And nice tight dresses
Susie wears form-fitting dresses
Oh! Oh! What a future she possesses
She has a bright future ahead of her
Out in public
In public places
How she can yawn
She appears uninterested or bored
In a parlour, you would think the war was on
She is very energetic and lively in social situations
Oh! Oh! What a girl!
Overall, Susie is a remarkable person
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: B.G. Desylva, Joseph Meyer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KalocsaiTamas
If you knew Susie like we know Susie
Oh oh oh what a gal
She's not so choosy
No, not our Susie
Oh oh... Susie is a lollapaloosie
When Susie kisses
She never fails
When Susie kisses
She takes the wind right out of your sails
So in conclusion
...beware of Susanne
Oh oh oh what a gal
S is for Sincerity - which she's got none of
U is for... you know what I mean
S is for Sincerity - which she's got none of
I is for the Irish in her smile - heeeer Iiiiiriiish smiiiiile
E is for her eagerness to please us - that is how she won her navy E!
Put them all together
They spell Su-uh-uh-uh-su-sie
The sweetheart of the boys at sea
Oh that Susie
She's a douzie
She's not choosy
You won't losey
Don't care whosy
I mean you see
You'll get woozy
After just one date with Susie
When you take her home about ten
Another gob is waiting there to take our Susie out again
So in conclusy
Beware of Susie
She belong to you and you and me (and the US Navy)
S-S-U-S-U-SS-U-S-I-S-U-S-I-E
@random_duck1
Iif you knew Susie, as we know Susie,
Oh, oh, oh what a gal .
She's not so choosy, no, not our Susie,
Oh, oh, Susie is a lot of balusie.
When Susie kisses, it never fails,
When Susie kisses, she takes the wind
Right out of your sails.
In conclusion, beware of Sus-ion,
Oh, oh, oh what a gal.
S - is for sincerity which she's got none of.
U - is for you know what I mean.
S - is for sincerity which she's got none of.
I - is for the Irish in her smile. her Irish smile.
E - is for her eagerness to please us,
That is how she wants her Navy-eee.
Put them all together, and they spell Su hu hu hu sie,
The sweetheart of all the boys at sea.
Oh that Susie, she's a two-sie,
She's not choosy, you won't losie,
Don't care who she, I mean you-sie,
you'll get woosy, after just one day with Susie.
When you take her home about ten,
Another guy is waiting there to take out Susie out again.
So when you choose she, beware of Susie
She's just much for you , and you and me, and the U.S.Navy
S S-U-S-U-S S-U-S-I S-U-S I-E
@MultiFutureDirector
Speechless. The talent is incredible. Such as shame there are not films like this anymore...Frank and Gene= Hollywood at it's BEST.
@lenhummel5614
Frank, Bing, Astaire, Gene, Danny Kaye, Donald O'Connor, ... THE GREATEST❗🎯💯
@kroakie4
Don’t forget James Stewart, Clark Gable, and Carey Grant!
@gatsbymaguire
Bogart, anyone?
@susanlloyd7395
I love how Gene Kelly brings out playfulness in Frank Sinatra.
@tiarailic4086
This is one of those songs that just gets totally stuck in your head!
@colinyork2215
It’s been stuck in my head for the last two days
@TheTransatlanticExchange
Fantastic! Absolute lyrical and melodic genius! Thanks so much for sharing yet another great clip from the great MGM musical era with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
@triplethreat017
Haha, this video will always remain one of my favourite videos ever. From the first time I saw it, I knew it was epic. Like others, I love the line "So in conclusion... beware of susion!" haha :) This is one of my favourite movies ever, starring two of my favourite stars, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Thank you so much for uploading it and allowing us fans of this amazing movie to re-watch it over and over again :)
@nessshirley6049
Always love this
Ness Shirley