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.
Hey There
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the solitary gloom I call to myself
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes
Love never made a fool of you, you used to be too wise
Hey there, you on that high-flyin' cloud
Though he won't throw a crumb to you, you think some day he'll come
to you
Better forget him, him with his nose in the air
He has you dancin' on a string, break it and he won't care
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a mother
Or are you not seein' things too clear
Are you too much in love to hear
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes (Are you talking to me?)
Love never made a fool of you (Not until now)
You used to be too wise (Yes, I was once)
Will you take this advice I hand you like a mother
Or am I not seein' things too clear
Are you just too far gone to hear
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other
In "Hey There" by Julie London, the singer is addressing someone who is infatuated with a person who is not reciprocating their feelings. The opening lines reveal that this person spends a lot of time alone, perhaps pining for this unrequited love interest. However, instead of sympathizing, Julie challenges this person with the line, "Love never made a fool of you, you used to be too wise." This suggests that this person was once emotionally stable but is now blinded by their love for this person.
The chorus follows, with Julie addressing this person as "you with the stars in your eyes." This evokes a sense of romanticism and a dreamy quality that matches the person's idealistic view of their love interest. She then suggests that this person still holds onto hope, even though it is clear the other person will not reciprocate their feelings.
The second verse takes a more direct approach, with Julie suggesting that this person should forget about their love interest, who is not treating them with respect. Julie uses the metaphor of dancing on a string, indicating that the love interest is in control and is not treating the person with the love and respect they deserve. Julie then asks if this person is willing to listen to her words of advice, or if they are too far gone with their infatuation to see clearly.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale of unrequited love, and Julie London encourages the listener to be cognizant of their own worth and to not become a "fool" for someone who does not see their value.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately when I'm in my room all by myself
Recently, when I have been alone in my room
In the solitary gloom I call to myself
In the darkness, I speak to myself
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes
Hello, you who are full of hopes and dreams
Love never made a fool of you, you used to be too wise
You have never been foolish in love before, perhaps because you were cautious
Hey there, you on that high-flyin' cloud
Hello, you who are feeling euphoric and soaring high
Though he won't throw a crumb to you, you think some day he'll come to you
Despite his lack of interest in you, you hold onto the hope that he may come to you eventually
Better forget him, him with his nose in the air
It would be wise to move on from him, considering his arrogance
He has you dancin' on a string, break it and he won't care
He manipulates you easily, and will be indifferent if you try to end things
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a mother
Would you kindly consider the wisdom I offer, as if I were your mother?
Or are you not seein' things too clear
Perhaps you are not thinking clearly
Are you too much in love to hear
Are you blinded by love and unable to heed advice?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other
Are you ignoring everything I am saying?
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes (Are you talking to me?)
Hello again, you optimistic dreamer (are you addressing me?)
Love never made a fool of you (Not until now)
You have not made mistakes in love before (at least, until this point)
You used to be too wise (Yes, I was once)
You once were more prudent in love (as you admit)
Will you take this advice I hand you like a mother
Would you kindly consider the wisdom I offer, as if I were your mother?
Or am I not seein' things too clear
Do I myself misunderstand the situation?
Are you just too far gone to hear
Have you gone too far to listen to reason?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other
Are you ignoring everything I am saying?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORG CHRISTIAN DOLIVO, GREG FIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind