She moved to New York and became a recording vocalist with Harry James big band in 1937.
Her swing recordings with Harry James included "Jubilee", "I Can Dream Can't I", "That's The Dreamer In Me" and "Song Of The Wanderer".
Helen Humes became one of the vocalists with Count Basie's band in the late 1930s.
Her vocals with Basie's band included "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea".
During the 1940s and 1950s Helen Humes became a solo performer and worked with different bands and other vocalists including Nat King Cole.
In 1950 Humes recorded Benny Carter's "Rock Me to Sleep". She managed to bridge the gap between big band jazz swing and rhythm and blues.
She moved to Hawaii and later to Australia.
Helen Humes died in Santa Monica, California.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Humes"
Million Dollar Secret
Helen Humes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna tell all you girls a secret, please, please keep it to yourself
Why it's a million dollar secret, so please don't tell nobody else
Now if you're a real young girl
And you want to get rich quick
Get an old, old man, girls
And that'll be the lick
They'll give you lots of loving, but they'll give you a whole lot of money too
(And I love that part)
Now he'll tickle you under your chin
And he'll scratch you on your side
He'll say "Wake up you fine young thing
Give me my morning's exercise"
Those old men are fine, yes yes yes they know what to do
They'll give you lots of loving, but they'll give you a whole lot of money too
Now I've got a man who's seventy-eight
And I'm just thirty-three
Everybody thinks I'm crazy
But his will's made out to me!
Yes that man is fine, girls he really knows just what to do
Why he'll give you lots of loving, but he'll give you a whole lot of money too
Now I've told all you young girls
Exactly what to do
Now let me tell you women
If you're over forty-two
Get you a young dude, and raise him to your hand
Cause he'll make you think life is wonderful, yes you'll think the world is grand
Now take a look in the barnyard
See that old fat hen
She's got a fresh young rooster
Feels just like a chick again
So get a young man, and raise him to your hand
Cause he'll make you think life is wonderful, yes you'll think the world is grand
You know he'll spend your hard-earned money
Make your life a hell on ea
rth
But you got a young dude that loves you, girl
You'll be the richest woman on this earth
Now love is fine, yeah, yeah, yeah, it'll do anything for you
Why he'll give you lots of loving, and he'll make your dreams all come true
In this song, Helen Humes is sharing her "million dollar secret" with women while also cautioning them to keep it to themselves. The secret is that young women can become wealthy quickly by being with much older men who will lavish them with both love and money. The song goes on to describe how these older men know just how to please their young partners and will provide them with all the money they need to live a life of luxury. Humes herself offers an example of this type of relationship, as she has a man who is 45 years her senior and has included her in his will.
While on the surface the song might seem like an endorsement of gold-digging, it's important to also consider the era in which it was written and the limited opportunities available to women at the time. The song can be seen as a commentary on the unequal power dynamics between men and women, with older men using their wealth to attract younger women. It can also be read as a critique of women's economic inequality and the ways in which they had to use their bodies to advance in a patriarchal society.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna tell all you girls a secret, please keep it to yourself
I have confidential information to share with you ladies, but it's crucial that you don't disclose it to anyone else.
Why it's a million dollar secret, so please don't tell nobody else
This secret has significant financial benefits; therefore, it should only remain between us.
Now if you're a real young girl, and you want to get rich quick
If you are a young lady seeking wealth at a fast rate
Get an old, old man, girls, And that'll be the lick
Date an elder gentleman, which will be advantageous for you
You know those old men are fine, yes they know just what to do
Elder men are experienced and sensitive to the needs of young women.
They'll give you lots of loving, but they'll give you a whole lot of money too
Aside from emotional satisfaction, wealth acquisition is guaranteed when in a relationship with an elder man.
Now he'll tickle you under your chin, And he'll scratch you on your side
An older man will show you tender love and care in romantic moments.
He'll say "Wake up you fine young thing, Give me my morning's exercise"
The older man will be passionate and physical in moments of intimacy.
Now I've got a man who's seventy-eight, And I'm just thirty-three
Currently, I am personally enjoying the benefits of being in a relationship with an older man.
Everybody thinks I'm crazy, But his will's made out to me!
Despite social perception of my relationship being unconventional, my lover has left me a significant inheritance.
Now let me tell you women, If you're over forty-two
If you are a mature woman in your forties, listen to my words of advice.
Get you a young dude, and raise him to your hand
Date a younger man whom you mould to meet your standards
Cause he'll make you think life is wonderful, yes you'll think the world is grand
The younger man will enhance the quality of your life and make you feel good about your self.
Now take a look in the barnyard, See that old fat hen
Consider the example of the old hen in the barnyard.
She's got a fresh young rooster, Feels just like a chick again
The aged hen became rejuvenated upon taking up with a younger mate.
So get a young man, and raise him to your hand
Ergo, I implore you to date a younger man.
You know he'll spend your hard-earned money, Make your life a hell on ea
However, beware that younger men may spend your money quickly and cause problems in your life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HELEN HUMES, JULES BIHARI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CaptJane
Very refreshing to see such honesty in a song.
Myron Verne
Accompaniment by Roy Milton and his Solid Senders, great R'n'B band of these glorious years....but along with Helen, the star of of this record is the ! Listen how the react... No, listen how they ARE with the singer ( especially the girls). One of the greatest live recordings ever!!!!
TheMomadot
I love this song , I'm 86 years old and I used to sing it in my thirties, loved it ,
william michael
my dad had this on a single vynil format & I've still got it & it's a classic
spike9000000
have not heard this recording since i was 14, some 67 years ago. had the record and played it on a wind-up gramophone.
rtt1961
Man, she could could sing !
Wim D.
" Now, I'm gonna tell all you girls a secret, Please keep it to yourself
I'm gonna tell all you girls a secret, Please keep it to yourself
It's a million dollar secret, so please don't tell nobody else"
quite the intro 😉
Slowdream101
Great Music is timeless
The Brazilian Atlantis
"when Helen was just 14 years old" Eventually she went along with that myth after someone subtracted, but she was born in 1909, she's in the 1910 census.
Paul Bullen
Recorded in August, 1950 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.