Jimmy Raney began his jazz guitar career very early with the history showing he played in the Jerry Wald band in 1944 at age 17.
In 1946 he worked for a time as guitarist with the Max Miller Quartet at Elmer's in Chicago, his first paying gig. Raney also worked in the Artie Shaw Orchestra and collaborated with Woody Herman for nine months in 1948. He also collaborated and recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig and later on with Bob Brookmeyer. In 1967 alcoholism and other professional difficulties led him to leave New York City and return to his native Louisville. He resurfaced in the 1970s and also did work with his son Doug, who is also a guitarist. Raney suffered for thirty years from Meniere's Disease, a degenerative condition that eventually led to near complete deafness in both ears. Fortunately, his playing remained unaffected. Raney died of heart failure in Louisville Ky. on May 10th of 1995, just short of his 68th birthday. An obituary in the New York Times referred to Jimmy Raney as 'one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists in the world .
Dinah
Jimmy Raney Lyrics
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Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.
News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
The lyrics of Jimmy Raney's song "Dinah" are about his love for a woman named Dinah, who he met in the state of Carolina. He sings about how proud he is to have her, and their upcoming wedding. He proclaims that she is the finest woman in Carolina and asks anyone who knows of a finer woman to show her. He sings about her beautiful Dixie eyes, and how much he loves to gaze into them. Despite his love for her, he is afraid that she might change her mind, causing him to shake with fright every night. He expresses that he loves her so much that he would travel to China just to be with her if she were to ever go there.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea of passionate love, and the fear that can come with it. It also highlights the importance of the woman, Dinah, to Jimmy, in a time and place where societal norms might not have allowed for their love to be expressed openly.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina
The state where Dinah is from
Gave me Dinah;
Jimmy met Dinah in Carolina
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.
Jimmy is very happy to be with Dinah in the southern US
News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
There is talk of Jimmy and Dinah getting married and he is excited and singing about it
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Jimmy thinks Dinah is the best woman in Carolina and challenges others to prove otherwise
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Jimmy loves looking into Dinah's beautiful eyes
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
Jimmy is worried that Dinah will change her feelings for him
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Jimmy would go anywhere to be with Dinah, even if she moved to China
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Jimmy still thinks Dinah is the best woman in Carolina and wants others to prove him wrong
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Jimmy continues to admire Dinah's beautiful eyes
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
Jimmy's worries about Dinah's feelings for him persist
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Jimmy reiterates his willingness to go to great lengths to be with Dinah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Akst, Samuel M. Lewis, Joseph Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind