Reid was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She sang in church and in high school in Georgia, and moved to New York City in 1947 after her mother died. Toward the end of 1947, she tied out for an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and won the competition for five straight weeks. Soon after she was offered a slot as the featured vocalist with Dick Vance at the Savoy Ballroom, which she held from 1948-1950.
In 1961-62, Reid sang with Count Basie's orchestra, and recorded for Verve Records. She later performed in a Broadway production of the musical The Wiz. Additionally, she sang with Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, and B.B King. Reid receded from fame in the 1970s and 1980s, but launched a comeback near the end of that decade. She appeared at the Savannah Jazz Festival in 1991, 1994, and 1996, and continued releasing albums on Savant Records in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2002, British DJ duo Beginerz sampled Reid's vocals to make the club hit "Reckless Girl."
Here
Irene Reid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Funny, but here's that rainy day
Here's that rainy day they told me about
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way
Where is that worn out wish that I threw aside
After it brought my lover near
It's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny, that rainy day is here
The lyrics to Irene Reid's song Here evoke a feeling of sadness and longing, as the singer contemplates lost love and missed opportunities. The first two lines suggest regret, as the singer laments not holding onto their "left over dreams" that may have led to a different outcome. The mention of a "rainy day" suggests a sense of gloom and sadness, and the repetition of this phrase emphasizes this feeling.
The following lines bring up a "worn out wish" that the singer had previously discarded, that had ironically brought their lover close. This implies a desire to change the past and a feeling of guilt for having let go of something important. The final lines, "Funny how love becomes a cold rainy day / Funny, that rainy day is here" are repeated again, emphasizing the cyclical nature of sadness and regret in love.
Overall, the lyrics convey a bittersweet feeling of looking back on lost love and memories, and the sorrow that comes with knowing that things could have been different.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams
Perhaps I should have held onto my hopes and aspirations for the future.
Funny, but here's that rainy day
Ironically, the bad day that I was warned about has arrived.
Here's that rainy day they told me about
This is the day that people warned me about, when everything goes wrong.
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way
At the time, I found the possibility of this day amusing and unlikely.
Where is that worn out wish that I threw aside
What happened to the hope that I gave up on and disregarded?
After it brought my lover near
After that wish led to me finding love and companionship.
It's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
It is ironic how something that once made me so happy can now be the source of my pain and despair.
Funny, that rainy day is here
Once again, the bad day has come, and it is not so funny anymore.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
indianthugs
Thanks for posting. Been looking for this. My mom's fav song. May she rest in peace. Had to shed tears to this.
DONTILLA2
No complaints no regrets. So give it all you got! Be strong brother. And toast up
indianthugs
@DONTILLA2 much love
Stuart H. Tresser
Great Vocalist who worked Jamaica, Queens area back in 1970's. I miss her!