Although she had classical voice training, early in her career she was drawn to the songs of the era’s brilliant young songwriters, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin, who were inspiring a resurgence in popular music. In 1934, at age 27, she became the top-polled ‘girl singer’. The famous composer and producer, Billy Rose, when asked to name the top ten female singers, is reported to have replied, “Jane Froman and nine others”.
She was severely injured by an aircraft crash on February 22, 1943, when a USO plane carrying Jane and thirty-eight others crashed into the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. One of fifteen survivors, Jane sustained horrible injuries: a cut below the left knee nearly severing her leg, multiple fractures of her right arm, and a compound fracture of her right leg that doctors threatened to amputate.
Jane underwent thirty-nine operations over the years. She stubbornly fought amputation, but with dignity and aplomb wore a leg brace the remainder of her life. However, she returned and entertained the troops in World War II, despite having to walk with crutches, giving ninety-five shows throughout Europe.
She is credited with three movies, Kissing Time (1933), Stars Over Broadway (1935) and Radio City Revels (1938). From 1952 to 1955, she hosted her own TV show The Jane Froman Show -- initially called USA Canteen -- on the CBS network. The show was fifteen minutes long and initially alternated with The Perry Como Show. The very first hit song to be introduced on television, I Believe, was written for Froman by the show’s musicians, Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, and Al Stillman and earned her a gold record in 1953.
Jane Froman's life story was the subject of the hit film With a Song in My Heart (1952), starring Susan Hayward as Froman. Froman herself supplied Hayward’s singing voice. The Capitol album of songs from the movie was the Number One best-selling album of 1952 and remained in the catalogue for many years. DRG recently issued it on a compact disc along with the 1952 original cast album of Pal Joey. The show's star, Vivienne Segal, could not record the album because of a previous album made, so Froman was substituted and she does quite well with her vocals. A Collectors' Choice CD called Jane Froman on Capitol is a nice collection of her Capitol Records singles and tracks from albums.
Jane retired to her home town of Columbia in 1961, but continued the volunteer work for which she was known throughout her career. In 1980, she died of cardiac arrest due to chronic heart and lung disease.
When Day Is Done
Jane Froman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dream of you when day is done
I think of all the joys we knew that yearning
Returning to hold you in my arms
Won't go, love, I know, love without you
Night has lost its charms
With twilight dew
My lonely heart is sinking with a sigh
Although I miss your tender kiss
The whole day through
I miss you most of all
When day is done
Although I miss your tender kiss
The whole day through
I miss you most of all
When day is done
The song "When Day is Done" by Jane Froman expresses the longing and yearning felt by someone who is separated from their loved one. The song begins with the end of the day, when shadows fall and the world grows quiet. This is when the singer dreams of their loved one, and thinks of all the joys they shared together. But this dream only intensifies the longing the singer feels, and they desperately want to return to their loved one's arms. The idea of living without this person is unbearable, and even the night has lost its charm without them.
The second verse of the song describes the lonely night, when the grass is wet with twilight dew. The singer's heart is sinking with a sigh, as they miss their loved one's tender kiss all day long. But it's when day is done that the longing is the strongest, and missing their beloved is the most painful. The repetition of the line "I miss you most of all when day is done" drives home the central theme of the song: the deep, aching desire to be reunited with the one you love.
Overall, "When Day is Done" is a beautifully poignant and emotional song, expressing the universal human experience of longing for someone who is far away. It captures the bittersweet sadness of separation and the intense desire for connection that only grows stronger with time.
Line by Line Meaning
When day is done and shadows fall
As the day comes to an end and darkness envelops the surroundings,
I dream of you when day is done
I find myself thinking fondly of you,
I think of all the joys we knew that yearning
Reflecting on the past, I ache to relive every happy moment we shared and yearn for your presence again.
Returning to hold you in my arms
I long to be reunited with you and feel the comfort of your embrace.
Won't go, love, I know, love without you
I cannot bear the thought of being without you, as I know that I cannot find love that compares to you.
Night has lost its charms
The nighttime, which typically held interest and intrigue, now holds no value or fascination, as it is not spent with the one I love.
When day is done and grass is wet
As the darkness deepens and the dew forms on the grass,
With twilight dew
As the evening transitions to nighttime,
My lonely heart is sinking with a sigh
My heart, heavy with loneliness and sadness, sinks within me as I let out a deep sigh.
Although I miss your tender kiss
Even though I yearn for the gentle caress of your lips,
The whole day through
All throughout the day,
I miss you most of all
The longing for you remains most intense,
When day is done
as the day concludes.
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.