Her musical career began in earnest when she was discovered in 1930 by Columbia Records vice president Ted Collins, who became her longtime partner and manager and who put her on the radio in 1931. She sang the controversial top twenty song of 1931, "That's Why Darkies Were Born". She starred in the 1932 movie Hello Everybody!, with co-stars Randolph Scott and Sally Blane, and in 1943 she sang "God Bless America" in the wartime picture This is the Army. Irving Berlin had written the song in 1938 for her, and it is considered "the second National Anthem" of the United States. Its popularity and constant airplay led Woody Guthrie to pen the original version of "This Land Is Your Land" in protest at the Berlin tune's unquestioning complacency.
Kate began making records in 1926; among her biggest hits were "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (1942), "There Goes That Song Again" (1944), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour" (1947). Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", the lyrics of which she helped write. She greeted audiences with "Hello, everybody!" and signed off with "Thanks for listenin'."
Her oversized figure made her the occasional butt of derision from fellow performers and managers. Despite the occasional ridicule, Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She began in 1931 with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (which quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931-33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934-35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934-35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935-36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936-37).
For eight years (1937-45), The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater. The nationwide audience was introduced to comedy by the show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, while a series of sketches led to The Aldrich Family as a spin-off in 1940. She continued into the 1950s on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC and NBC, doing both music and talk shows.
An unusual part of her career began on December 11, 1969, when the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team played her rendition of "God Bless America" before the game. Philadelphia beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3. The team would begin to play the song before home games every once in a while, and the perception developed that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew.
Kate Smith, who never married, died of diabetes at the age of 79 in Raleigh, North Carolina, several years after converting to Roman Catholicism. (from Wikipedia)
I Only Have Eyes For You
Kate Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't see anyone but you
Sha bop sha bop
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all dissappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
The lyrics to Kate Smith's "I Only Have Eyes For You" showcase a love that is all-consuming and completely focused on one person. The singer's love is described as "blind" and they are unable to see anyone but their beloved. This idea is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "I only have eyes for you" throughout the song. The singer is completely captivated by their lover and the entire world fades away when they are together. The verses describe a world where everything else fades away except for the object of the singer's affection. The stars and moon are mentioned, but they are inconsequential next to the presence of the singer's beloved. The second verse is especially evocative, describing a scenario where the singer and their lover could be anywhere, but as long as they are together, nothing else matters.
Overall, "I Only Have Eyes For You" is a song about complete and total devotion to another person. The repeated refrain of "I only have eyes for you" emphasizes the depth of the singer's love and their unwavering commitment to their partner. The song is both romantic and nostalgic, conjuring images of a simpler time when such all-consuming love was more celebrated and valued.
Line by Line Meaning
My love must be a kind of blind love
I'm so in love with you that I'm completely blind to anything else
I can't see anyone but you
You are the only person who matters to me at this moment
Sha bop sha bop
Silly nonsense syllables used to complete the musical phrase
Are the stars out tonight
I'm not sure what's going on outside
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I don't have any awareness of the weather, all I can focus on is you
I only have eyes for you dear
You are the center of my world, and I cannot see anything else
The moon may be high
I understand that objects like the moon exist, but I'm too infatuated with you to pay attention
But I can't see a thing in the sky
My entire being is focused on you and our relationship
I don't know if we're in a garden
My concentration is utterly focused on you and your presence
Or on a crowded avenue
It doesn't matter where we are, as long as I'm with you
You are here and so am I
Our shared presence is all that matters to me
Maybe millions of people go by
The world is full of people, but I'm only concerned with how you see me
But they all dissappear from view
When I'm with you, everything else fades away
And I only have eyes for you
I am consumed by my love for you and everything else is secondary
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Butterball121252
She was beyond incredible! Thanks so much, I'm always thrilled to find music that my parents listened to.
voceval1
Love this incredible soulful woman. Thank you for posting
gf1001
Your welcome its a FANTASTIC version of the classic song, proves what an exceptional singer Kate was.
butchscorner
Just Wonderful. I loved her.
gf1001
Thank you for your comment on the quality of the recording the arrangement is fine slow but nice more intimate but then again we all have our own views. ITS THE QUALITY OF KATE SMITHS VOICE WHICH MAKES IT OUTSTANDING. thanks for your comments,which are welcome.
Boston Blackie
Yes, a slower arrangement but Kate manages to put it over very well.
Corrie121
Great posi. I have added this on to my "playlist". Thanks for sharing.
gf1001
Its true its slow but what a powerful performance and that was my main reason for posting THE VOICE thanks for your comments.
r1013
I personally prefer this version to the more upbeat one. It makes it feel a bit more romantic~
Wayne Brasler
Kate actually takes the song at its original tempo. It's interesting to note that her orchestrations were way ahead of their time. She didn't just sing to dance band arrangements but detailed orchestrations that often incorporated a countermelody, that is, a song to go along with the sound. The string orchestration here is particularly detailed and lush. And listen what she does with the refrain, creating an urgent dramatic ending to the song, like a great film coming to its close. Wow!