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.
Bidin' My Time
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause that's the kind of girl I'm
While folks grow dizzy i keep busy
Bidin' my time
I'm bidin' my time
'Cause that's the kind of girl I'm
Beginnin' on a Monday right through Sunday
Somethin's bound to happen
This year, this year
I'll just keep on mappin'
And bidin' my time
'Cause that's the kind of girl I'm
There's no regrettin' when I'm settin'
Just bidin' my time
The lyrics to Julie London's song "Bidin' My Time" describe a woman who is patient and content with taking her time in life. She embraces her own pace and does not feel the need to rush like others around her. The line, "I'm bidin' my time 'cause that's the kind of girl I'm," suggests that this patient approach is a characteristic of her personality.
While others may feel overwhelmed or caught up in the chaos of life, the singer of the song finds solace in staying busy and focused on her own journey. The line "While folks grow dizzy I keep busy, bidin' my time" highlights her ability to navigate life at her own pace without feeling the need to match the speed of those around her.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of determination and optimism for the future. The lines "I'm bidin' my time next year, next year, something's bound to happen, this year, this year, I'll just keep on mappin'" indicate her belief that eventually, something significant will occur. She remains hopeful and dedicated to her path, even if it takes some time to unfold.
Overall, "Bidin' My Time" celebrates the value of patience, self-assurance, and an unwavering commitment to one's own journey, despite the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm bidin' my time
I am patiently waiting and seizing opportunities at the right moment
'Cause that's the kind of girl I'm
Because I have a determined and patient nature
While folks grow dizzy I keep busy
While others get overwhelmed, I stay productive and focused
Bidin' my time
Being patient and waiting for the right moment to act
Beginnin' on a Monday right through Sunday
Starting my endeavors at the beginning of the week, and carrying through till the end
I'm bidin' my time next year, next year
I will continue to be patient and wait for opportunities in the upcoming year
Somethin's bound to happen
I am confident that something significant will occur
This year, this year
In the present year, I am determined to make progress and achieve my goals
I'll just keep on mappin'
I will keep planning and strategizing to navigate my way towards success
And bidin' my time
Continuing to be patient and wait for the right opportunities
'Cause that's the kind of girl I'm
Because having patience is a defining characteristic of mine
There's no regrettin' when I'm settin'
When I am determined and taking action, I have no room for regrets
Just bidin' my time
Simply waiting patiently for the right moment to act
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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