Born over a fish and chip shop owned by her grandmother in Molesworth Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, she made her first stage appearance as a child in 1905. Her two sisters, Edith and Betty, and brother, Tommy, all went on to appear on stage, but Gracie was the most successful. Her professional debut in variety took place at the Rochdale Hippodrome theatre in 1910 and she soon gave up her job in the local cotton mill.
She met comedian Archie Pitt and they began working together. Pitt would come to serve as her manager and the two married in 1923. Their first revue in 1915 was called Yes I think so and the two continued to tour Britain together until 1922 in the revue Mr Tower of London.
Her most famous song, which became her theme, "Sally," was worked into the title of her first cinema film, Sally in Our Alley (1931), which was a major box office hit. She went on to make several films initially in Britain and later in the United States (for which she was paid a record fee of US$200,000 for four films), despite never performing without a live audience.
Ironically, the final few lines of the song 'Sally' were written by her husband's mistress, and Gracie sang this song at nearly every performance she made from 1931 onwards.
If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake
Gracie Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a year.
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake, baked a cake, baked a cake
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake
Howdya do, howdya do, howdya do?
Had you dropped me a letter, I'd a-hired a band, grandest band in the land
Had you dropped me a letter, I'd a-hired a band
Not the lyrics to "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A Cake" ?, Please report that below.
Oh, I don't know where you came from
'cause I don't know where you've been
But it really doesn't matter
Grab a chair and fill your platter
And dig, dig, dig right in
Do you know what album had this song, can you report to us below?
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake, hired a band, goodness sake!
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake
Howdya do, howdya do, howdya do?
The song "If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake" by Gracie Fields is a cheerful and welcoming song. The singer in the song is expressing regret for not knowing that their guest was coming, as they would have gone to greater lengths to prepare. They would have baked a cake and hired a grand band to provide warmly welcoming entertainment. The singer doesn't know where their guest came from or where they've been, but they welcome them with open arms and encourage them to dig into the plentiful feast before them.
The song is joyful and lighthearted, conveying a sense of warmth and generosity towards others. Its lyrics and melody are catchy and easy to remember, contributing to its popularity as a classic tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Come in! Well, well, well. Look who's here. I haven't seen you in many a year.
I am surprised and happy to see you after such a long time. Please come in and make yourself comfortable.
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake, baked a cake, baked a cake. If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake.
I would have prepared a cake for you if I had known that you were coming.
Howdya do, howdya do, howdya do?
How are you? How have you been all these days?
Had you dropped me a letter, I'd a-hired a band, grandest band in the land. Had you dropped me a letter, I'd a-hired a band. And spread the welcome mat for you.
If you had informed me earlier about your visit, I would have arranged for the best band to welcome you properly.
Oh, I don't know where you came from 'cause I don't know where you've been. But it really doesn't matter. Grab a chair and fill your platter. And dig, dig, dig right in.
I don't know what you've been up to or where you have been, but it doesn't matter as you are here now. Please grab a chair and enjoy the food I have prepared for you.
If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake, hired a band, goodness sake! If I knew you were comin' I'd've baked a cake. Howdya do, howdya do, howdya do?
Once again, if I had known about your visit, I would have arranged for everything to make your visit special. How are you doing?
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lynnpollock5553
I learned this song as a child, but she really makes it so special!!!❤❤🎉🎉
@LeighAnnaReyes-wn6os
One of my Mothers favorite records. If I k ew you were coming I'd of baked a cake.
@joycegausmann5840
Just "discovered" Gracie a few weeks ago and she enchanted me. Her humor and entertaining was grand - love her movies too.
@CottonCandywebs
Great song my favorite always
@theragingginger1190
My nana used to sing this to me when I was very small and I had completely forgotten about it until now. She told me it was a song from when she was younger, but I thought she had just made it up. I'm glad to have found it again.
@beverlygannon4141
My mum used to sing the first line about cake. Now I know where' it from👍👍
@carolking6355
That brings back such happy memories from when I was a little girl. 🥰
@Marlies72
Just heard this song on Homes under the Hammer, they were at Gracie's statue. Song sounded familiar, in the Netherlands we had a singer called Dorus, he made a Dutch version of this song.
@ginadyson4214
great singer~~~
@casemaarse
Great old song❤🎉😂