Though Gerry Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history - playing the instrument with a light and airy tone ushering in the era of cool jazz - he was also a notable arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others.
Mulligan's pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the more important cool jazz groups.
Dinah
Gerry Mulligan Quartet Lyrics
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Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.
News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
In "Dinah," Gerry Mulligan sings a romantic ode to his lover, Dinah Lee, whom he met in North Carolina. He declares his love for her with lyrics like "Carolina gave me Dinah; I'm the proudest one beneath the Dixie sun" and "Dinah, is there anyone finer in the state of Carolina?". Mulligan worries that Dinah might change her mind about him, as he sings "every night, my, how I shake with fright, because my Dinah might change her mind about me!" Despite this, he still proclaims his love for her and says he would cross the ocean to be with her if she ever wandered off to China.
Overall, "Dinah" is a sweet, romantic tune that highlights the joy of finding a true love. Mulligan's use of location and culture, specifically the reference to the Dixie sun and Dixie eyes, emphasizes the sense of place and pride that comes with falling in love in a specific part of the country.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina
The state's name where the singer met Dinah
Gave me Dinah;
Introduced to and developed a relationship with Dinah
I'm the proudest one
Proud to be with Dinah
Beneath the Dixie sun.
Happy to live under the bright southern sun
News is spreadin'
People are talking about their relationship
'Bout our weddin';
About their upcoming marriage
I hear church bells ringin',
Wedding bells are being heard
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
The love he feels for Dinah
Dinah,
Addressing the love of his life
Is there anyone finer
Is there anyone better than Dinah
In the state of Carolina?
In the state they call home
If there is and you know her,
Asking if there is someone better and if they know her
Show her!
Encouraging people to introduce her to him
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
Describing Dinah's fiery southern eyes
How I love to sit and gaze in
Expressing his admiration and love for Dinah
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Looking into Dinah's beautiful eyes
Yet, every night,
Describing his fear every night
My, how I shake with fright,
Expressing his anxiety about losing Dinah
Because my Dinah might,
Fear of Dinah leaving him
Change her mind about me!
The possibility of Dinah breaking up with him
But if Dinah,
Still loves Dinah even with fear of losing her
Ever wandered to China,
If Dinah ever moves to a faraway place
I would hop an ocean liner,
He will cross the ocean to find her
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
He will do anything to be with her
Dinah,
Repeating his love for Dinah
Is there anyone finer
Asking again if there is anyone better than her
In the state of Carolina?
Repeating the question if there is anyone better in their state
If there is and you know her,
Asking again if anyone knows someone better
Show her!
Encouraging people to introduce him to her
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
Repeating Dinah's fiery southern eyes
How I love to sit and gaze in
Repeating his admiration for Dinah
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Repeating his love for Dinah
Yet, every night,
Repeating his fear every night
My, how I shake with fright,
Repeating his anxiety about losing Dinah
Because my Dinah might,
Repeating his fear of Dinah leaving him
Change her mind about me!
Repeating his fear of Dinah breaking up with him
But if Dinah,
Repeating his love for her despite his fear
Ever wandered to China,
Repeating the possibility of Dinah moving far away
I would hop an ocean!,
Repeating his commitment to cross the ocean to find her
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Repeating his love and determination to be with her
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Akst, Samuel M. Lewis, Joseph Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind