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.
Why Should'nt It Happen To Us
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It isn't sound
Love don't know from season, logic
Rhyme or reason
Love can be found in every port
Love gets around, in short
It has happened to a cricket in a thicket
There has even been a rumor it
Has happened to a puma
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
It has happened to the mamma of a lama
To a pelican and to an octopus
Since it happened to the swordfish
It no longer is a "board fish"
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
It's elusive, profusive
Nobody has an exclusive
On love, man, beast or dove
Take the regal old eagle
The porcupine and the beagle
Yes the kangaroo all pitch woo
It happened to a tuna at Laguna
To a girl named Myrtle and a guy named Gus
Why a lot of sense come to
Me by the shores of Isagumi
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Oh the busy little hornet doesn't scorn it
To ignore it really is ridiculous
It's a ritual in Turkey
Motanique in Albuquerque
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
There's no ration on passion
L'amour is always in fashion
It wings beggars and kings
Take the cheetah and eeta
The halibut and the mosquito
Yes, and billy-goats feel their oats
Oh it thrills the tiny sparrow to it's marrow
And the armadillo deems it super-plus
Why our ancient barnyard rooster finds
It quite a morale booster
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
I had even heard a reindeer whisper
"Please, say that again, dear, "
Why, oh why, shouldn't it happen to us?
The lyrics to Frank Sinatra's song "Why Shouldn't It?" explore the idea that love can be found anywhere and can happen to anyone, regardless of logic or reason. The song suggests that love is a powerful force that transcends boundaries and expectations.
The first verse cautions against arguing with one's heart, emphasizing that love does not adhere to seasons or logical explanations. Love can be found in every port and can manifest in unexpected places and situations. The lyrics highlight that love has happened to a cricket in a thicket, on a streetcar, and even to a puma, challenging the notion that love is limited to certain individuals or species. The phrase "Love gets around, in short" reinforces the idea that love knows no boundaries.
The second verse continues to give examples of love that defies expectations. From the mamma of a lama to a pelican and an octopus, love has happened to various creatures. The mention of a swordfish changing its identity from a "board fish" suggests that love has transformed it into something greater. The lyrics then suggest that love is inclusive and universal, happening to anyone and everyone. It happened to a tuna at Laguna, to individuals named Myrtle and Gus, and to a wide array of animals, from the eagle to the kangaroo. The lyrics conclude with the idea that love has no limitations and should not be restricted, as it has the potential to happen to anyone, including the listener.
Overall, "Why Shouldn't It?" celebrates the unpredictable and all-encompassing nature of love, encouraging listeners to embrace the idea that love can happen to anyone, regardless of societal norms or expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Never argue with your heart, it isn't smart
Engaging in debates with your emotions is not wise
It isn't sound
It lacks rationality
Love don't know from season, logic
Love is not restricted by timing or reasoning
Rhyme or reason
Nor does it require a logical explanation
Love can be found in every port
Love is present in various places
Love gets around, in short
Love spreads and is not limited
It has happened to a cricket in a thicket
Love has occurred unexpectedly in unlikely situations
It has happened on a streetcar and a bus
Love has blossomed during ordinary daily commutes
There has even been a rumor it
There have been talks and whispers about love
Has happened to a puma
Even a wild and fierce creature has experienced love
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Why should we be excluded from experiencing love?
It has happened to the mamma of a lama
Love has touched even the mother of a lama
To a pelican and to an octopus
Love has extended to creatures like pelicans and octopuses
Since it happened to the swordfish
Now that even a swordfish has felt love
It no longer is a 'board fish'
It is no longer considered as unemotional or unfeeling
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Why should we be denied the opportunity to experience love?
It's elusive, profusive
Love is mysterious and abundant
Nobody has an exclusive
No one possesses sole ownership or control
On love, man, beast or dove
Love is universal, irrespective of humans, animals, or birds
Take the regal old eagle
Even majestic creatures like eagles experience love
The porcupine and the beagle
Both spiky porcupines and friendly beagles find love
Yes the kangaroo all pitch woo
Even kangaroos engage in courtship and love
It happened to a tuna at Laguna
Love occurred to a tuna fish in Laguna
To a girl named Myrtle and a guy named Gus
Love touched individuals named Myrtle and Gus
Why a lot of sense come to
It is reasonable to understand
Me by the shores of Isagumi
While reflecting near the Isagumi shores
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Why should we not be fortunate enough to experience love?
Oh the busy little hornet doesn't scorn it
Even the industrious hornet does not reject love
To ignore it really is ridiculous
Neglecting love is truly absurd
It's a ritual in Turkey
Love is a customary practice in Turkey
Motanique in Albuquerque
And even in Albuquerque, love is celebrated
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Why should we be excluded from experiencing love?
There's no ration on passion
Passion cannot be limited or restricted
L'amour is always in fashion
Love is forever trendy
It wings beggars and kings
Love affects both the poor and the rich
Take the cheetah and eeta
Even fast cheetahs and timid eetas find love
The halibut and the mosquito
Both the halibut fish and the mosquito experience love
Yes, and billy-goats feel their oats
Even billy-goats display their vitality when in love
Oh it thrills the tiny sparrow to it's marrow
Love profoundly excites even the smallest sparrow
And the armadillo deems it super-plus
Even the armadillo considers love as extraordinary
Why our ancient barnyard rooster finds
Even the old barnyard rooster discovers
It quite a morale booster
That love greatly uplifts his spirits
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Why should we be denied the chance to experience love?
I had even heard a reindeer whisper
I once overheard a reindeer quietly saying
"Please, say that again, dear, "
"Kindly repeat that, my dear,"
Why, oh why, shouldn't it happen to us?
There is no valid reason why we should not experience love
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Heath
Never argue with your heart, it isn't smart, it isn't sound
Love don't know from season, logic, rhyme or reason
Love can be found in every port
Love gets around, in short
It has happened to a cricket in a thicket
It has happened on a streetcar and a bus
There has even been a rumor it has happened to a puma
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
It has happened to the mamma of a lama
To a pelican and to an octopus
Since it happened to the swordfish, it no longer is a "board fish"
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
It's elusive, profusive, nobody has an exclusive
On love, man, beast or dove
Take the regal old eagle, the porcupine and the beagle
Yes the kangaroo all pitch woo
It happened to a tuna at Laguna
To a girl named Myrtle and a guy named Gus
Why a lot of sense come to me by the shores of Isagumi
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
Oh the busy little hornet doesn't scorn it
To ignore it really is ridiculous
It's a ritual in Turkey, Motanique in Albuquerque
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
There's no ration on passion, l'amour is always in fashion
It wings beggars and kings
Take the cheetah and eeta, the halibut and the mosquito
Yes, and billy-goats feel their oats
Oh it thrills the tiny sparrow to its marrow
And the armadillo deems it super-plus
Why our ancient barnyard rooster finds it quite a morale booster
Why shouldn't it happen to us?
I had even heard a reindeer whisper "Please, say that again, dear,"
Why, oh why, shouldn't it happen to us?
Baculpo , Marben James F.
*board
*Hiawatha
*Anteater
*Martinique
Nick Fletcher
Its happened to a tuna in Lagoona. Hehe.