She was born Gisèle Marie-Louise Marguerite LaFlèche in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and studied violin and voice at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Ontario. She had her own Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio program, Meet Gisèle, before moving to Los Angeles, California in 1951.
MacKenzie recorded albums and 45rpm singles on various record labels, most notably Capitol and RCA. Her biggest selling song was "Hard To Get" in 1955.
MacKenzie was an accomplished violinist and performed many comedic musical duets with mentor Jack Benny. She sang frequently on early television shows such as The Jack Benny Program and The Ed Sullivan Show. She appeared often at Las Vegas venues and in numerous North America concerts.
In the U.S., she appeared on radio on such stars' programs as Bob Crosby and Mario Lanza. She also hosted a radio show entitled Airtime.
In 1952 and 1953 she toured with Benny, who recommended her for Your Hit Parade. During her tenure on that show, "Hard to Get" became a hit. MacKenzie appeared on the show for several years, finally leaving in 1957 to head her own short-lived variety program, The Gisèle MacKenzie Show. She returned to television in 1963 on The Sid Caesar Show and was a panelist on many quiz programs.
In later years MacKenzie performed widely in musical theater in such shows as Mame, Gypsy, The Sound of Music, and Hello, Dolly! She turned to acting in the 1990s, making guest appearances on television series including Murder, She Wrote and MacGyver.
MacKenzie has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 1601 Vine.
She died from colon cancer, aged 76, in 2003. Her daughter is contemporary jazz artist Gigi MacKenzie.
Swinging Down the Lane
Gisele Mackenzie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody feelin' grand, swingin' down the lane,
That's the time I miss the bliss, that we might have known,
Nights like this, when I'm all alone!
When the moon is on the rise, 'Honey' I'm so blue,
Watchin' lovers making eyes, like we used to do,
When the moon is on the wane, still I'm waitin' all in vain,
When the moon is on the rise, 'Honey' I'm so blue,
Watchin' lovers making eyes, like we used to do,
When the moon is on the wane, still I'm waitin' all in vain,
Should be swingin' down the lane with you!
Gisele MacKenzie's song Swinging Down the Lane is a sentimental ballad that speaks of a yearning to be with a loved one again. The opening line "Everybody hand-in-hand, swingin' down the lane" suggests a joyful time with a lover, but the next few lines reveal that the singer is reminiscing and "missing the bliss" that they might have had. Even though "everybody" is feeling grand, the singer is left feeling lonely "when I'm all alone."
The second verse adds to the melancholy tone of the song. The mention of the moon rising and the singer feeling blue suggests that the memories of happy times with the loved one come flooding back at night. The line "watchin' lovers making eyes, like we used to do" is especially poignant because it suggests that the singer is observing others while feeling nostalgic for her own lost love. The final lines express the singer's deep yearning to be with the loved one again, as she dreams of "swingin' down the lane" with them once more.
Overall, Swinging Down the Lane is a bittersweet reflection on lost love and the desire to recapture happy memories. The song's nostalgic imagery and wistful lyrics create a sense of longing that is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced heartbreak or separation from a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody hand-in-hand, swingin' down the lane,
Everyone is holding hands and enjoying a walk down the street.
Everybody feelin' grand, swingin' down the lane,
Everyone is feeling wonderful and enjoying life as they walk.
That's the time I miss the bliss, that we might have known,
At times like this, I am reminded of the happiness that we could have had together.
Nights like this, when I'm all alone!
During nights like this one, I feel lonely because I am all by myself.
When the moon is on the rise, 'Honey' I'm so blue,
When the moon is rising, I feel sad and downhearted, my dear.
Watchin' lovers making eyes, like we used to do,
I watch couples gazing into one another's eyes and remember how we used to do the same thing.
When the moon is on the wane, still I'm waitin' all in vain,
Even as the moon begins to fade away, I still wait in vain for you to return.
Should be swingin' down the lane with you!
I should be walking down the street, holding hands with you.
Writer(s): Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Walsh
Lovely performance by all concerned. Her voice is great
ERIC FRY
Thanks for this video.
A local FM radio station here in Perth Western Australia, uses this track as their opening to one of their shows....( meant for "us Senior Citizens.")
Now I shall search for some available cds of this accomplished singer, that is certainly worth listening to.
OnlyFiftiesAgain
ERIC FRY I'm pleased you found this great number from Gisele,she was a very talented singer,but not too well known outside of the USA..
Em.C. Spiteri
Good big band sound, this was awfully nice.
OnlyFiftiesAgain
Thanks very much Em,I'm pleased that you enjoyed this nice number from Gisèle MacKenzie ,she's a good singer..
flatop47
Cant Beat A Good Old Oldie.....Nice One Mick
OnlyFiftiesAgain
Many thanks Brian,that's me,a good old oldie ! lol
flatop47
Yes Me 2
OnlyFiftiesAgain
flatop47 LOL