His build earned him a nickname and a signature song, "Mr. Five by Five" ("he's five feet tall and he's five feet wide"). His best known recordings are probably those of "Going to Chicago" with Basie and "Harvard Blues" with the famous saxophone solo by Don Byas. George Frazier, author of "Harvard Blues", called Rushing's distinctive voice, "a magnificent gargle".
He died of leukemia in 1972 in New York City.
Am I Blue?
Jimmy Rushing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting on the weary shore
I'm just a woman who's only human
One you should feel sorry for
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it, why should he do it
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan with your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one lonely
Was I gay, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue
The lyrics to Jimmy Rushing Dave Brubeck's song "Am I Blue?" express the feelings of a woman who has been left by her partner. The woman expresses how lonely she feels and how this is a very human feeling that should elicit sympathy. The lyrics describe how she woke up one morning and realized her partner had left without any warning. She questions why he would do such a thing and why he would not have done it before. She then goes on to ask whether she is blue or not, highlighting that the tears in her eyes tell the story of her pain. She goes further to ask why anyone would even ask her if she is blue when her plans with her man have fallen through.
The song explores themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and betrayal. The woman's emotions are quite raw, and the lyrics do an excellent job of portraying this. The question of whether she is blue or not is almost rhetorical as it is so evident that she is. The song, therefore, speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the pain of heartbreak or loss, and how it can leave one feeling lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
I'm a woman who feels lonely
Waiting on the weary shore
Waiting for something or someone to come that may never arrive
I'm just a woman who's only human
I'm a flawed person
One you should feel sorry for
I'm in a pitiful state
It was a morning, long before dawn
It was early in the morning
Without a warning I found he was gone
He left me unexpectedly
How could he do it, why should he do it
I don't understand why he would leave me
He never done it before
He has never left me like this before
Am I blue, am I blue
Am I depressed, feeling hopeless
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
Can't you see that I'm crying
How can you ask me am I blue
How can you not see that I'm feeling sad
Why, wouldn't you be too
Wouldn't you feel the same way
If each plan with your man
If every plan with your partner
Done fell through
Has failed and left you alone
There was a time
There was a period
When I was his only one
When I was the only person he was romantically involved with
But now I'm the sad and lonely one lonely
Now I'm the one feeling sad and alone
was I gay, until today
Was I happy and carefree, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Now he's left, and our relationship is over
Am I blue
Am I feeling hopeless and depressed
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gynack
Super track that I hadna heard. Jimmy Rushing for me was one of the greats whom I saw live in London with Count Basie. He was more than just a Blues shouter. These tracks of his deserve far more views
@user-rp5ld5de7o
Magnifique blues song de l'immense Jimmy Rushing. Insurpassable dans le blues de cette période
@bennyjazzful
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 76yo Aussie fan.
Amazing sounds & performances.
@farmerjbird
Great stuff!! Mr. Five by five Jimmy Rushing and Earl "Fatha" Hines!!
@leslieliard2857
Excellente selection ! Merci
@antoniomaceo5820
SUBLIME
@paullevine1813
The great Mr. 5X5. Soul to spare !!!
@johnwhitehead3360
DELIGHTFUL THANK YOU
@paulviardot4400
Version de haut vol !
@nurimajeed8595
Am I happy I remember this n found it here....thank u daddy for the gift n love of this music