Joni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chica… Read Full Bio ↴Joni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chicago, IL. In her early years, she studied drama & ballet. After high school she toured Canada with a dance group. After taking a job as a chorus girl, she decided to pursue a singing career. MGM executives saw her in a TV commercial and she was signed by MGM in 1952.

She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"

She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A Foggy Day
Joni James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was a stranger in the city
Out of town were the people I knew
I had that feeling of self-pity
What to do, what to do, what to do
The outlook was decidedly blue

But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known

A foggy day, in London town
Had me low, had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
British Museum, had lost its charm

How long I wondered,
Could this thing last
But the age of miracles, hadn't past
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere

For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere

Everywhere

Everywhere
Everywhere

Overall Meaning

Joni James's song, A Foggy Day, describes the feeling of being lost and alone in a strange city, feeling homesick and wondering what to do. The singer of the song is feeling sorry for herself, with nothing to look forward to and nowhere to go. She is surrounded by a thick fog which only adds to her feeling of isolation. However, as she walks alone through the foggy streets, she finds love, and her whole world changes. The fog is no longer a sign of despair and loneliness. Instead, it's a reminder of the day when everything changed for the better.

The song is not just about the power of fog to transform one's mood, but also about the transformative power of love. It tells the story of an encounter which changes the singer's outlook on life, bringing sunshine and hope where there was once despair. Through this encounter, the singer learns that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for something better.

Line by Line Meaning

I was a stranger in the city
I was feeling alone and out of place in this unfamiliar place

Out of town were the people I knew
I didn't have any familiar faces around me in this new city

I had that feeling of self-pity
I was feeling sorry for myself and my situation

What to do, what to do, what to do
I was at a loss for what to do to improve my mood

The outlook was decidedly blue
Things seemed bleak and gloomy

But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
Despite feeling lost and alone, I continued to walk through the foggy city streets

It turned out to be the luckiest day I've known
Despite my initial negative perspective, the day ended up being very lucky for me

A foggy day, in London town
The setting of the song is a foggy day in London

Had me low, had me down
The fog and my feelings had brought me down and made me feel low

I viewed the morning, with much alarm
I was starting the day feeling a sense of dread and unease

British Museum, had lost its charm
Even a well-known attraction like The British Museum had lost its appeal to me

How long I wondered,
I questioned how long my negative feelings would last

Could this thing last
I was worried that my negative outlook may persist

But the age of miracles, hadn't past
I was reassured that things could still change and the future may hold good things

For suddenly, I saw you there
I unexpectedly caught a glimpse of someone I knew

And through foggy London town,
Despite the fog and my earlier negative feelings, there seemed to be brightness all around

The sun was shining everywhere
The metaphorical sun - positive energy and hope - seemed to be present in every corner of the city

Everywhere
Repeating this word emphasizes the pervasive sense of positivity that has overtaken me

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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