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.
dancing with tears in my eyes
Gracie Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They seem so happy and gay
Though they sing and they swing as they sway
Somehow I can't feel that way
For I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
Cause the boy/girl in my arms isn't you
Dancing with somebody new
Trying to smile once in a while
But I find it so hard to do
For I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
Cause the boy/girl in my arms isn't you
While the throng's in the spell of a song
My thoughts keep drifting to you
While each pair seems to share their affair
They're making me blue
For I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
Cause the boy/girl in my arms isn't you
Dancing with somebody new
When it's you that my heart's calling to
Trying to smile once in a while
But I find it so hard to do
For I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
Cause the boy/girl in my arms isn't you
Gracie Fields's song "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" is a melancholic reflection on heartache and the futile attempt to move on. The lyrics convey the singer's feelings of loneliness and longing as she watches people around her engage in joyous activities like dancing and singing, yet she can't shake off the sadness brought on by the absence of her lover. The first verse sets the scene of a happy dance floor, where couples are enjoying each other's company, singing and swaying in rhythm. But the singer fails to find happiness in this setting, even as she tries to convince herself that she should be happy too.
The chorus captures the essence of the song, as the singer admits to dancing with tears in her eyes due to the absence of her old lover. She's now with somebody new, but her heart's still calling out to the old flame, making it hard for her to smile even for a moment. The bridge reveals that the singer's thoughts wander back to her old lover, as she watches other couples share their moments of love and affection. In the end, the song is a powerful reminder of how it's difficult to let go of the past, even when we try our best to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Those who dance and romance while they dance
People who sway and swing while they dance with their partner, look happy and joyful.
They seem so happy and gay
Couples on the dance floor appear to be enjoying themselves and having a good time.
Though they sing and they swing as they sway
While they move elegantly to the rhythm of the music, they also hum along and enjoy the lyrics.
Somehow I can't feel that way
The singer cannot enjoy the moment and feel cheerful like the other couples, despite being on the dance floor.
For I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
The singer is crying tears of sadness while she dances.
Cause the boy/girl in my arms isn't you
The singer is heartbroken because she is dancing with someone else, and not with the person she loves.
Dancing with somebody new
The singer is trying to move on, but still misses the person she truly loves.
When it's you that my heart's calling to
Despite dancing with someone else, the singer's true love and heart belongs to someone else.
Trying to smile once in a while
The singer is attempting to put on a facade of happiness.
But I find it so hard to do
It's difficult for the singer to fake happiness, while she is missing the person she truly loves.
While the throng's in the spell of a song
Everyone else at the dance is enjoying the atmosphere and the music.
My thoughts keep drifting to you
The singer's mind is wandering, and she keeps thinking about the person she truly loves.
While each pair seems to share their affair
Each couple seems to be enjoying each other's company, and showcasing their love through dancing.
They're making me blue
This situation is making the singer feel sad and lonely.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joe Burke, Al Dubin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Dredd
on In My Little Bottom Drawer
Gracie Fields's song, "In My Little Bottom Drawer," is a humorous take on the life of a spinster who is all prepared for married life. The lyrics describe a woman who has spent years alone, preparing for her future marriage by hoarding various items that she believes will be necessary. She has saved up a bridal gown, an eiderdown, ribbons, bows, and other odds and ends that are all packed up in her little bottom drawer. She has also bought items for her future children, including a baby's cot, a flower pot, and a bassinet.
The woman's preparations extend beyond her home and family, as she has also bought a set of Priestley's works and a case of eggs from Turks. She has answered every advertisement in the Matrimonial Times and is eager to start her life with her future husband. The lyrics are full of humor, but they also reflect the pressure that society places on women to get married and start a family. The woman in the song has internalized this pressure and feels like she must be fully prepared for every aspect of married life.
Overall, "In My Little Bottom Drawer" is a lighthearted song about a woman who has been waiting so long to meet a man that her continued years as a spinster have allowed her to continue adding to her trousseau beyond practicality and reason.
Joe Dredd
on Wish Me Luck (As You Wave Me Goodbye)
Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye is sung from the point of view of a soldier farewelling his girlfriend (or wife) as he leaves for the front. The song was intended to encourage women not to make the men feel sadness and grief as they left home (which would depress morale in the trenches) but to give them cheery goodbyes instead.