London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Bewitched
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a fool can have her charms
I'm in love and don't I show it
Like a babe in arms
Love's the same old situation
Lately I've not slept a wink
Since this crazy situation
I'm wild again, beguiled again
A whimpering, simpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep
Love came and told me, shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I lost my heart, but what of it
She is cold I agree
She might laugh, but I love it
Although the laugh's on me
I'll sing to her, bring spring to her
And long, for the day when I'll cling to her
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
The song "Bewitched" by Julie London is a classic love song that deals with the ideas of love and infatuation. The lyrics depict a man who is in love with a woman who is not necessarily good for him. He acknowledges that she is a fool, but nonetheless, she has a charm that keeps him coming back to her. Even though he is aware of his own foolishness for falling for her, he cannot help himself as he is "bewitched" by her.
The singer is portrayed as being in a crazy situation, as he cannot sleep and is constantly thinking about this woman. He feels like a child again, whimpering and simpering in her presence. The woman knows that the singer is in love with her and she takes advantage of this by laughing at him. Despite this, he still loves her and sings to her, hoping that one day she will return his affection.
Overall, the song suggests that love can be irrational and illogical at times. It can leave people feeling bewitched and helpless, even when they know that they shouldn't be in love with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a fool and don't I know it
I am aware that she might not be the smartest, but I am still drawn to her.
But a fool can have her charms
Even though she might not be the brightest, she still has qualities that attract me.
I'm in love and don't I show it
I am deeply in love with her, and it is obvious to those around me.
Like a babe in arms
My love for her is pure and innocent, like that of a child.
Love's the same old situation
Falling in love is a common experience.
Lately I've not slept a wink
I have been unable to sleep since falling in love.
Since this crazy situation
My love for her is so strong that it feels overwhelming and confusing.
Has me on the blink
My emotions are all over the place because of my love for her.
I'm wild again, beguiled again
My love for her has made me feel young and carefree once more.
A whimpering, simpering child again
My love for her is so strong that it has made me feel vulnerable and childlike again.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I am under her spell, feeling unsettled, and unsure about the situation.
Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep
I was unable to sleep and did not want to miss any moment of my love story.
Love came and told me, shouldn't sleep
My love for her is so strong that even love advises me to stay awake, and not to miss any moment of it.
I lost my heart, but what of it
I fell deeply in love, but I am okay with that even though it seems illogical.
She is cold I agree
I acknowledge that she might not be the warmest person, but my love for her is stronger than that.
She might laugh, but I love it
Even though she might not take me seriously, I am still in love with her and everything about her.
Although the laugh's on me
Even though I might look foolish for being in love with her, I cannot help the way I feel.
I'll sing to her, bring spring to her
I am willing to do anything to make her happy, including writing her songs and bringing her joy.
And long, for the day when I'll cling to her
I cannot wait for the day when I can hold her in my arms and show her how much I care about her.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I
I am still under her spell, feeling unsettled and unsure about the situation.
Lyrics © DistroKid, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frederben4776
One of the best female vocalists ever. I was in love with her in the early 60's
@Tallykoren
I love pleasant, soft, sensual low female vocals!
@MicheleVK
Timeless music that even Old Rockers eventually fall in love with. ;)
@Hyramess
Never can listen to something as appealing and relaxing as this smoky, sexy, sophisticated arrangement of a great American classic without looking back with deep regret that this lovely world got buried beneath the avalanche of offal that is Rock 'n Roll -- a ruinous assault on our culture from which we'll never recover, I fear.
@ianmcgeachy
This has got that smooth 50s Nat King Cole style production with orchestra...very much of its time but extremely listenable. Julie had a fantastic voice didnt she- a beautiful sound.-Ian
@jeffkennerson7463
I LOVE HER VELVET VOICE
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Earlier this hour, Sirius radio played Julie London's beautiful version of DON'T WORRY 'BOUT ME. I no sooner locate it moments ago on Youtube than -- next up, this track. If I didn't know better I'd say What a coincidence! A three-word diagnosis /comment below this video: "Better than viagra."
Yes, "definitive version," as you say MicheleVK -- thanks for sharing.
@julissalaguna6931
Good song
@annettewalker9639
Before she was Nurse Dixie from "Emergency."
@georgesaxman1461
Better than viagra