Jazz-pop artist Halie Loren is an American singer-songwriter. Originally ha… Read Full Bio ↴Jazz-pop artist Halie Loren is an American singer-songwriter. Originally hailing from Alaska, she now resides in Oregon (USA).

Loren’s debut release of eleven original songs and one cover (Joni Mitchell's "River"), Full Circle, was released in 2006.

Her sophomore album, They Oughta Write a Song (2008), brought to light her life-long love of jazz standards, and subsequently won a national independent music award for best vocal jazz album, and soon after received distribution in Asia by JVC/Victor Entertainment and in North America by Justin Time Records.

Her holiday album with pianist Matt Treder, Many Times, Many Ways: a Holiday Collection, also recorded in 2008, was first released in limited edition, then followed with worldwide distribution in 2011.

Her fourth CD, the live album Stages (2010), was met with critical praise, including being named as an Editor’s Pick at CD Baby and “best live album of the year” at Wildy’s World.

After Dark followed in 2010, with the Loren original Thirsty winning the Independent Music Awards’ Vox Pop poll for best jazz song of the year.

The concoction of jazz standards, re-imagined pop classics, and originals that made up 2012’s Heart First was honored by Japan’s Jazz Critique magazine as the "best vocal jazz album of 2011". Fly Me to the Moon, a bonus track, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the iTunes Japan jazz chart. It was among the top 10 jazz CDs in Hot New Releases at Amazon in the U.S. and Canada, and reached No. 1 on the iTunes Canada jazz albums chart.

For the past three years she has traveled the world with the members of her original band, including Canada, across the U.S., Japan, Italy, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and include big band/symphonic performances with the Jazz Orchestra of Sicily, the Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra in Oregon, and the Monroe Symphony in Louisiana.

The year 2013 brought Halie Loren’s Simply Love, with three new originals and ten re-imagined classics from contrasting eras of the American songbook. It rose to the top of the Japan charts in pop and jazz even before its June release date, and claimed No. 1 in its first week and by its third week, climbed to No. 1 spot on Billboard Jazz / Japan. Singles included the string-infused original Cuando Bailamos, Carole King’s 1974 B-side hit I Feel the Earth Move, and the title track, which Loren co-wrote with Benita Hill.

Simply Love was released in the U.S. and Canada by Justin Time Records on Sept. 10, 2013, entering iTunes Canada as #1 jazz album. She and her band are touring the US and other parts of the world in support of the album.

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby
Halie Loren Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a guy who's always late
Every time we have a date
But I love him
Yes I love him

I'm gonna walk right up to his gate
To see if I can get it straight
Cause I want him

Oh, and you know I'm gonna ask him

Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
The way your acting lately makes me doubt
You have always been my baby, baby
Seems the flame in your heart has gone out
Well a fellow, he's a creature
Who has always been strange
Just when you think you're his
You know he's gone and made a change
So is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Has my baby found somebody new
Or is my baby still my baby true?

Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
The way your acting lately makes me doubt
Oh, I said you have always been my baby, baby
And it seems the flame in your heart has gone out
Well a fellow, he's a creature
Who has always been strange
Just when you think you're his
You know he's gone and made a change
So is you is or is you ain't my baby?

Has my baby found somebody new
Or is my baby still my baby true?

Overall Meaning

In Halie Loren's song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," the lyrics portray a narrative of uncertainty and doubt in a romantic relationship. The singer expresses her love for a guy who is consistently late for their dates, acknowledging his flaws but still holding onto her affection for him. She decides to confront him by going to his gate to clarify their status, indicating her determination to find out the truth. She asks him directly if he is still her baby or if something has changed between them.

The lyrics capture the emotional turmoil experienced when someone's actions contradict their previous behavior and create confusion in a relationship. The repetition of the question "Is you is or is you ain't my baby?" emphasizes the need for clarity and reassurance. The singer recognizes that people can be unpredictable and prone to change, which adds to the uncertainty she is feeling.

The comparison of the guy to a "strange creature" highlights the unpredictable nature of love and relationships. Despite past assurances of his commitment, she fears that he may have found somebody new. The mention of the flame in his heart going out suggests a loss of passion or love, further deepening her doubts.

Overall, "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" explores themes of longing for clarity, questioning one's partner's loyalty, and grappling with the unpredictability of love.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a guy who's always late
I have a man in my life who is consistently tardy

Every time we have a date
On every occasion we plan to meet

But I love him
Nevertheless, I harbor affection for him

Yes I love him
Indeed, my feelings for him are genuine

I'm gonna walk right up to his gate
I will approach his residence directly

To see if I can get it straight
In order to ascertain the truth of the matter

Cause I want him
Because I desire his presence

Oh, and you know I'm gonna ask him
Oh, and it is certain that I will inquire of him

Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Are you or are you not my significant other?

The way your acting lately makes me doubt
Your recent behavior raises suspicions within me

You have always been my baby, baby
Historically, you have remained my beloved, my dear

Seems the flame in your heart has gone out
It appears that the passion within your heart has faded away

Well a fellow, he's a creature
Indeed, a man can be quite unpredictable

Who has always been strange
Consistently displaying peculiar behavior

Just when you think you're his
Just as you believe you possess his affection

You know he's gone and made a change
He abruptly alters his stance and emotions

So is you is or is you ain't my baby?
So I inquire once again, are you truly my beloved?

Has my baby found somebody new
Has my beloved discovered another romantic partner?

Or is my baby still my baby true?
Or does my cherished one remain faithful to our relationship?

Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Are you or are you not my significant other?

The way your acting lately makes me doubt
Your recent behavior raises suspicions within me

Oh, I said you have always been my baby, baby
I previously affirmed that you have always been my beloved, my dear

And it seems the flame in your heart has gone out
Moreover, it appears that the passion within your heart has faded away