Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola", and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and at one point had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters and eight grandchildren. When the first marriage failed, she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen has married a total of four times.
She co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980.
In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she died in San Diego, California from a battle with hepatitis C resulting in primary liver cancer (hepatoma).
Minnie from Trinidad
Helen O'connell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There lives a lassie named Minnie Breeze;
And all the natives agree that she's
The hottest thing in Trinidad!
When Minnie dances, I guarantee
With every move of her vertebrae
The temperature jump up ten degree!
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, they all love Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, and all the natives would be so sad
If Minnie ever left Trinidad!
Although the natives love Minnie so,
Minnie had herself a steady beau;
A fellow known as Calypso Joe,
And Minnie swore they'd never part!
But fate stepped in only as fate could,
Min won a contest for dancing good,
So she went away to Hollywood;
When Joe heard that it broke his heart!
In Hollywood Minnie traveled far,
They changed her name to Minnie La Mar,
And pretty soon she became a star,
The siren of the picture show!
But one day Minnie got awful mad,
A guy got fresh and she said, "You cad!
My heart belongs to my Trinidad,
My Trinidad Calypso Joe".
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, in Hollywood Minnie met a cad;
Aye aye aye, but there is only one native lad
Gets chinny with Minnie from Trinidad!
So Minnie gave up her dough and fame,
And she went back to from where she came;
And when she got there she heard with shame
That her Calypso Jo was dead!
When she heard that, she almost died,
She got a gun to try suicide!
But as she started to shoot, she cried,
"I think I'd rather live instead!".
But now the natives are mighty glad,
'Cause Minnie came back to Trinidad!
Aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye aye aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye!
Aye aye!
The song "Minnie from Trinidad" by Helen O'Connell tells the story of a woman named Minnie Breeze, who is known for her incredible dancing skills and beauty. She lives on an island in the Southern Seas, and is the hottest thing in Trinidad according to the locals. Whenever Minnie dances, the temperature in Trinidad apparently jumps up ten degrees, which shows just how mesmerizing her moves are.
The song takes a sad turn when Minnie wins a dance contest and moves to Hollywood with hopes of making it big in the movie industry. Her boyfriend, Calypso Joe, was heartbroken by her departure, and it is revealed later in the song that he died while she was away. Minnie becomes a star in Hollywood but loses sight of what's important in life until a man gets too fresh with her and she realizes how much she misses Trinidad and Calypso Joe. She gives up everything and goes back home, only to find out that Calypso Joe is dead. In the end, Minnie decides that she wants to live and the locals are thrilled that she is back in Trinidad.
The song tells a story of love, heartbreak, and ultimately, finding oneself. It reminds us that chasing fame and fortune may make us forget the things that really matter in life. The character of Minnie shows us that sometimes, going back to our roots and remembering where we came from is the best way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on an island in the Southern Seas,
On an island in the Southern Seas there exists Minnie Breeze
There lives a lassie named Minnie Breeze;
Minnie Breeze is a resident of that place
And all the natives agree that she's
All the natives unanimously regard her as
The hottest thing in Trinidad!
The most heartthrobbing thing of Trinidad!
When Minnie dances, I guarantee
If Minnie dances, I can assure you
With every move of her vertebrae
With each movement of her spinal column
The temperature jump up ten degree!
The temperature soars up by ten degrees!
In Trinidad that isn't bad!
This is not considered undesirable in Trinidad!
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Minnie from Trinidad is addressed as Aye aye aye
Aye aye aye, they all love Minnie from Trinidad,
All of them adore Minnie from Trinidad
Aye aye aye, and all the natives would be so sad
It would cause immense grief to all the natives
If Minnie ever left Trinidad!
If Minnie departs Trinidad!
Although the natives love Minnie so,
Although they deeply love Minnie
Minnie had herself a steady beau;
Minnie had a constant boyfriend for herself
A fellow known as Calypso Joe,
This person was known as Calypso Joe
And Minnie swore they'd never part!
Minnie made an oath that they'd never get separated
But fate stepped in only as fate could,
But fate made its way, as fate can
Min won a contest for dancing good,
Minnie won a dance contest
So she went away to Hollywood;
Consequently, she left for Hollywood
When Joe heard that it broke his heart!
When Joe learnt of it, he was heartbroken
In Hollywood Minnie traveled far,
Minnie traveled a lot in Hollywood
They changed her name to Minnie La Mar,
They changed her name to Minnie La Mar
And pretty soon she became a star,
She soon became a celebrity
The siren of the picture show!
The one who steals the spotlight in the motion pictures!
But one day Minnie got awful mad,
One day Minnie got excessively angry
A guy got fresh and she said, "You cad!
A gentleman acted inappropriately with her and thus she reprimanded him loudly.
My heart belongs to my Trinidad,
Minnie's heart belongs to Trinidad,
My Trinidad Calypso Joe".
And Trinidad's Calypso Joe
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
People of Trinidad address her as Aye aye aye
Aye aye aye, in Hollywood Minnie met a cad;
While in Hollywood, Minnie had an unpleasant encounter with an ungentlemanly person.
Aye aye aye, but there is only one native lad
Despite many desirable suitors, there's only one native man for Minnie,
Gets chinny with Minnie from Trinidad!
who matches the energy of Minnie from Trinidad!
So Minnie gave up her dough and fame,
Hence, Minnie renounced her earnings and popularity
And she went back to from where she came;
And she returned back her native place
And when she got there she heard with shame
And when she arrived there, to her dismay
That her Calypso Jo was dead!
She learnt that her Calypso Jo had passed away!
When she heard that, she almost died,
After hearing that news, she almost died in anguish
She got a gun to try suicide!
She acquired a gun to end her life abruptly!
But as she started to shoot, she cried,
But as she aimed, she sobbed,
"I think I'd rather live instead!".
"I guess I would prefer living instead!".
But now the natives are mighty glad,
Nevertheless, the inhabitants are pleased these days
'Cause Minnie came back to Trinidad!
As Minnie returned to Trinidad
Aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye aye aye
Aye aye aye aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye aye aye aye aye aye
Aye aye!
Aye aye
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER EDENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
Helen does a marvelous job with these clever lyrics; great support from JD's excellent crew.