Mitch Miller, who was in charge of talent at Columbia Records, noted Cernik in 1950, and he joined Columbia and got his new stage name at Miller's urging: Miller is supposed to have said, "my name is 'Mitchell' and you seem a nice 'guy', so we'll call you Guy Mitchell."
His first hit "My Heart Cries for You" was in 1951. In the 1950s and 1960s he acted in movies as well as singing. He did movies with Teresa Brewer and Rosemary Clooney. In 1957 he had his own television show.
Though he is considered an average pop singer, many of his songs have a decided rock beat to them, including "Knee Deep in the Blues", "Heartaches By the Number", "Rock-a-Billy", "The Same Old Me" and his biggest hit, "Singing the Blues", which was number one for 10 weeks in 1956.
2007 would have been Guy's 80th birthday year and to commemorate this anniversary SONYBMG(UK) are to release a new CD "The Essential Collection". A tribute site has also been launched: http://www.agreatguy.net detailing his life and career as a recording artiste.
She Wears Red Feathers
Guy Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt)
She lives on just cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eyes
And love in her heart for me
I work in a London bank, respectable position
From nine to three they serve you tea
Each night of music calls, rather lost I seem
And once a pearl of a native girl came smilin' right at me
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She lives on just cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eyes
And love in her heart for me
Goodbye to the London bank, I started in a-sailin'
The fourteenth day from Mandalay I spied her from the railin'
She knew I was on my way, waited, and was true
She said "You son of an Englishman, I've dreamed each night of you"
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She lives on just cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eyes
And love in her heart for me
I went to her Ma and Pa and said I loved her only
And they both said we could be wed, oh, what a ceremony
An elephant brought her in, placed her by my side
While six baboons got out bassoons and played "Here Comes the Bride"
I'm back here in London town and, though it may sound silly
She's here with me and you should see us walk down Picadilly
The boys at the London bank kinda hold their breath
She sits with me and sips her tea which tickles them to death
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She lives on just cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eyes
And love (and love) in her heart (in her heart) for me
Guy Mitchell's song, "She Wears Red Feathers," is a lighthearted and melodious tune that tells the story of a London bank worker who falls in love with a beautiful native girl while on a night out at a local club. The lyrics provide an insight into their whirlwind romance, as he eventually leaves his job and travels to Mandalay to be with her. The chorus of the song states that the girl wears "red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt," suggesting that she is vibrant and exotic, with a free-spirited personality.
The verses of the song provide further context, revealing that she lives on coconuts and fish from the sea, and that she has a rose in her hair and a gleam in her eye. These details convey a sense of simplicity and purity, as well as hinting at her natural allure. The final verse of the song describes the couple's return to London, where they now live together and enjoy the attention of his former colleagues at the bank.
Overall, "She Wears Red Feathers" is a whimsical and charming song that celebrates the idea of finding love in unexpected places. The upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it an enduring favorite, while the lyrics are a testament to the power of attraction and the thrill of romantic adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
She wears red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She is a uniquely dressed woman in red feathers and a hooly-hooly skirt
She lives on just cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
Her simple lifestyle revolves around consuming cokey-nuts and fish from the sea
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eyes
Her hair is adorned with a rose, and her eyes shimmer with a beautiful gleam
And love in her heart for me
She has a deep affectionate feeling towards me
Goodbye to the London bank, I started in a-sailin'
I leave my job at a London bank to sail on a new adventure
The fourteenth day from Mandalay I spied her from the railin'
Fourteen days after departing Mandalay, I catch sight of her from the railing
She knew I was on my way, waited, and was true
She was aware of my arrival, waited for me, and remained loyal
She said "You son of an Englishman, I've dreamed each night of you"
She greeted me by calling me a son of an Englishman and confessing that she had dreamed of me every night
I went to her Ma and Pa and said I loved her only
I visit her parents to express my sincere love for their daughter
And they both said we could be wed, oh, what a ceremony
Her parents allow us to be wed, and the wedding ceremony is joyous and memorable
She sits with me and sips her tea which tickles them to death
She enjoys drinking tea with me, which amuses my former coworkers from the bank to no end
And love (and love) in her heart (in her heart) for me
She keeps deep affectionate feelings towards me in her heart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB MERRILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Speare
Guy Mitchell is very underrated. He had about 40 hit songs, and he had hits in the top 10 throughout the entire decade of the 1950s. He also could sing in more than one style.
Bill Accord
Exactly. Great singing voice. Long Live Guy Mitchell. A very talented and versatile entertainer.
GenWivern2
Couldn't agree more. He had much the same strengths as Sinatra: distinctive, attention-commanding voice, excellent diction and intonation, but the material hasn't worn very well. It's a shame because the songs were catchy, well arranged and superbly recorded, but they often tend to come across as novelty records from a bygone age. Not that that's ever put me off.
Georgia Wessling
@GenWivern2 Me neither. To me, Guy could sing nothing wrong. Loved him from 14-83 so far. Glad I found this on you tube.
nesuko 1134
Guy mitchell is mega underrated. Thankfully the Fallout game brought a some attention to one of his other songs. But he still deserves so much more
Adam
My grandmother passed away yesterday, one of her favorite songs ♥️
Jane Tumelty
Sorry for your loss ❤️❤️
maureen1938
Thank you for taking us down Memory Lane with this delightful share. Guy mitchell had such a sunshine voice. Love him...
Joanna
My dad loves Guy Mitchell and I was brought up on all his songs, I know them all word perfect. My dad is now terminally ill and listening to this song brings back so so many memories and starts my never ending tears back off.
whispperson
Incredible singer and talent.
Love listening to Guy Mitchell songs.