Raitt was born in Santa Ana, California. He got his start in theatre as a high school student at Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California. While there, he played in several drama productions in the Plummer Auditorium. Raitt sang in the chorus of "Desert Song." A few years before he died, Raitt once again came back to the Plummer to see a rehearsal, visit students and recollect his beginnings. He is on the school's "Hall of Fame" for his accomplishments.
He is best known for his stage roles in the musicals Carousel, Oklahoma!, The Pajama Game, Carnival in Flanders, Three Wishes for Jamie, and A Joyful Noise, in which he set the standard for virile, handsome, strong-voiced leading men during the golden age of the Broadway musical. His only leading film role was in the 1957 movie version of The Pajama Game opposite Doris Day.
On television, he was seen many times on the Bell Telephone Hour. A clip of a television performance of Raitt singing the final section of the song "Soliloquy" from Carousel is included in the documentary film Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There. In 1957, also for television, he and Mary Martin re-created their starring roles in the national touring version of Annie Get Your Gun.
In addition, Raitt made several studio cast recordings of Broadway musicals, including Oklahoma! (as Curly), and Show Boat (as Gaylord Ravenal).
In 1945, John Raitt was one of the recipients of the first Theatre World Award for his debut performance in Carousel. In 1965, he starred in the twentieth-anniversary production of the show at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
In 1981, he found out that his high school sweetheart was widowed. Having recently divorced from his second wife, he phoned her. "Having played Zorba, I believe in grabbing at life," he recalled. "So I called her and this sweet voice answered. 'I'm free now,' I told her, 'and I'm coming to dinner.' They married.
He died on February 20, 2005, at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, from complications due to pneumonia, aged 88. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre.
He was the father of singer Bonnie Raitt, and former father-in-law of Michael O'Keefe. He was the grandfather of Bay Raitt, the creator of Gollum's face for the The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Shadrack
John Raitt Lyrics
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There was three children from the land of Israel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
They took a little trip to the land of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Nebudchanezzer was the king of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the trombone,?
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the clarinet,?
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the horn,
You must fall down and worship the idol!?
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
But the children of Israel would not bow down!
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol!
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
I said you couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol!
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
So the king put the children in the fiery furnace
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Eleven times hotter, hotter than it oughtta be!
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Burned up the soldiers that the king had put there
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
But the Lord sent an angel with the snow-white wings
Down in the middle of the furnace
Talkin' to the children 'bout the power of the Gospel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Well they couldn't burn a hair on the head of
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Laughin' and talkin' while the fire jumpin' round
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego!
Old Nebudchanezzer called 'hey there!?
When he saw the power of the Lord
And they had a regal time in the house of Babylon
Shadrack! Meshach, Abednego!
Oh, Abednego!!
John Raitt's "Shadrack" tells the Biblical story of three children from Israel, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, who take a trip to Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. The king makes an idol of gold and commands everyone to worship it when they hear the music of the trombone, clarinet, and horn. However, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down to the idol, even when threatened with punishment. Eventually, the king puts them in a fiery furnace, which was made eleven times hotter than usual. Despite the intense heat, the three children do not get burnt or harmed in any way. An angel with snow-white wings comes down to the furnace and talks to the children about the power of the Gospel.
The lyrics tell the story of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to idolize false entities and their faith in God, which saves them from harm. The story also reinforces the belief that faith and belief in God can overcome even the harshest of punishments and trials.
Line by Line Meaning
There was three children from the land of Israel
Three children from Israel were named Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego
They took a little trip to the land of Babylon
They went on a trip to Babylon
Nebudchanezzer was the king of Babylon
Babylon was ruled by King Nebudchanezzer
He took a lot of gold, and made an idol
The king made an idol from gold
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the trombone,?
The king told everyone to worship the idol when they heard the sound of the trombone
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the clarinet,?
The king told everyone to worship the idol when they heard the sound of the clarinet
And he told everybody 'when you hear the music of the horn,
The king told everyone to worship the idol when they heard the sound of the horn
You must fall down and worship the idol!?
Everyone was instructed to bow down and worship the idol
But the children of Israel would not bow down!
Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idol
Couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol!
The three children were not tricked into worshiping the idol made of gold
I said you couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol!
The singer repeats that the children were not fooled by the idol's shiny appearance
So the king put the children in the fiery furnace
The king had the children thrown into a furnace
Heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
The fire was fueled with hot coals and brimstone
Eleven times hotter, hotter than it oughtta be!
The fire was made exceptionally hot
Burned up the soldiers that the king had put there
The soldiers who threw the children into the furnace died in the flames
But the Lord sent an angel with the snow-white wings
An angel with white wings appeared
Down in the middle of the furnace
The angel appeared in the middle of the fire
Talkin' to the children 'bout the power of the Gospel
The angel spoke to the children about the strength of the Gospel
Well they couldn't burn a hair on the head of
The children were completely unharmed by the fire
Laughin' and talkin' while the fire jumpin' round
The children were seen laughing and talking while the flames danced around them
Old Nebudchanezzer called 'hey there!?
The king called out to them
When he saw the power of the Lord
The king was amazed by the Lord's strength
And they had a regal time in the house of Babylon
Everyone celebrated the survival of the children in Babylon
Shadrack! Meshach, Abednego!
The names of the three children are repeated as a chorus
Oh, Abednego!!
Abednego's name is repeated for emphasis
Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC
Written by: ROBERT MACGIMSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind