Born in Royal, Nebraska, Hering began playing piano at age three, and at age six started formal study in classical piano. She studied classical piano and voice at Sacred Heart in Omaha, Nebraska where she became interested in jazz.
After beginning her career at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha she joined a United States Navy recruiting tour during World War II. In the late 1940s, she worked in Chicago clubs where she once was a supporting vocalist for Anita O'Day. She became known for what might be deemed torch songs.
She signed with Decca Records in 1951 and became known both for pop and jazz. The 1950s saw her at the height of her importance. In that decade she sang in a few films and in 1957 she had a top 30 hit with "Fire Down Below". After her switch to Capitol Records she had success doing interpretations of Cole Porter with Billy May arranging some of the more humorous examples.
In the 1960s she gave up music to teach and later moved to Hollywood to work on film composing with Hugo Friedhofer. She also wrote Interpreting Popular Music At The Keyboard during her final years. She died in Los Angeles of pneumonia in 1991.
Lazy Bones
Jeri Southern Lyrics
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How you spect to get your day's work done?
You can't get your day's work done
Sleepin' in the noon day sun
Lazybones, layin' in the shade
How you gonna get your cornmeal made?
You can't get no cornmeal made
When taters need sprayin', I bet you keep prayin'
The bugs'll fall off of the vine
And when you go fishin' I bet you keep wishin'
Them fish don't grab your line
Lazybones, loafin' all the day
How you spect to make a dime that way?
You won't make no dime that way
Loafin' in the shade all day
The song "Lazy Bones" by Jeri Southern is a humorous tune that plays on the various excuses made by lazy people to justify their laziness. The song begins with the singer addressing a lazy person who is sleeping in the sun, asking how they expect to get any work done when they are wasting their day sleeping. The singer then mocks the lazy person by pointing out that they won't be able to get any of their work done if they continue to sleep all day.
The song continues with the singer highlighting the various tasks that the lazy person is neglecting by sleeping all day. For instance, the singer wonders how the lazy person will get their cornmeal made or will be able to spray their taters if they continue to sleep all day. The singer even jokes that the lazy person wishes that bugs drop off the vine when they need spraying and hopes that fish do not grab their line when they go fishing.
The song is notable for its upbeat melody and catchy lyrics. It portrays laziness in a fun and lighthearted manner and is a popular tune for whistling or humming along. The song has been covered by various artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and Leon Redbone. In the year 1947, the song was featured in the film "Mother Wore Tights," performed by the actress Betty Grable.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazybones, sleepin' in the sun
Addressing someone who is idle and lethargic during the daytime.
How you spect to get your day's work done?
Asking how they can expect to accomplish anything while sleeping in the sun during the day.
You can't get your day's work done
Noting how impractical it is to sleep in the sun and expect to get any work done during the day.
Sleepin' in the noon day sun
Stating the fact that sleeping in the sun during the day is a sheer waste of time.
Lazybones, layin' in the shade
Addressing someone who is still being lazy, now in the shade instead of the sun.
How you gonna get your cornmeal made?
Asking how they expect to get anything done while being idle and unproductive.
You can't get no cornmeal made
Stating the fact that it is impossible to get anything done while being idle and unproductive.
Sleepin' in that evening shade
Reiterating the point that being lazy and unproductive is a waste of time no matter what time of day it is.
When taters need sprayin', I bet you keep prayin'
Observing how the person probably spends their time wishing things would get done without them actually having to do anything.
The bugs'll fall off of the vine
Imagining a scenario where the bugs will magically disappear without any effort on the part of the person being addressed.
And when you go fishin' I bet you keep wishin'
Implying that the person probably spends a lot of time wishing things would happen instead of actually making them happen.
Them fish don't grab your line
Imagining a scenario where the fish won't bite the person's line even if they do go fishing, thus allowing them to remain lazy.
Lazybones, loafin' all the day
Repeating the fact that the person is indeed being lazy and unproductive.
How you spect to make a dime that way?
Asking how the person expects to earn any income while being so idle and unproductive.
You won't make no dime that way
Stating that the person won't be able to earn any income by being lazy and unproductive.
Loafin' in the shade all day
Reiterating the fact that being idle and unproductive all day is a complete waste of time.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind