Kay Starr was successful in every field of music she tried, jazz, country and pop. But her roots were in jazz, Billie Holiday, considered by many the greatest jazz singer of all time, called Starr "the only white woman who could sing the blues."
She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz".
Kay Starr was born on a reservation in Dougherty, Oklahoma. Her father, Harry, was a full-blooded Iroquois Indian; her mother, Annie, was of mixed Irish and American Indian heritage. When her father got a job installing water sprinkler systems, the family moved to Dallas, Texas.
While her father worked for the Automatic Sprinkler Company, her mother raised chickens, and Kay used to sing to the chickens in the coop. As a result of the fact that her aunt, Nora, was impressed by her singing, she began to sing at the age of seven on a Dallas radio station, WRR, first in a talent competition where she finished third one week and won every week thereafter, then with her own weekly fifteen minute show. She sang pop and "hillbilly" songs with a piano accompaniment. By the age of ten, she was making $3 a night, a lot of money in the Depression days.
As a result of her father's changing jobs, her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and she continued performing on the radio, singing "Western swing music," still mostly a mix of country and pop. It was while she was on the Memphis radio station WMPS that, as a result of misspellings in her fan mail, she and her parents decided to give her the name "Kay Starr". At the age of fifteen, she was chosen to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra. Venuti had a contract to play in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis which called for his band to feature a girl singer, which he did not have; Venuti's road manager heard her on the radio, and suggested her to Venuti. Because she was still in junior high school, her parents insisted that Venuti take her home no later than midnight.
Although she had brief stints in 1939 with Bob Crosby and Glenn Miller (who hired her in July of that year when his regular singer, Marion Hutton, was sick), she spent most of her next few years with Venuti, until he dissolved his band in 1942. It was, however, with Miller that she cut her first record: "Baby Me"/"Love with a Capital You." It was not a great success, in part because the band played in a key more appropriate for Marion Hutton, which was less suited for Kay's vocal range.
December
Kay Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get a yearning for a Christmas I know, with holly and snow
The kind we used to have back home a long time ago
December, brings back a scene that I remember
So cheerful and bright, and all the world a wonderland (all covered with white)
Children sound asleep on Christmas Eve
They're dreaming dreams of make believe
You can bet tomorrow, they'll be thrilled
When they awake to find their stockings filled
December
These are the things that I remember
And, so no matter what my fortune may be, or where I may roam
In December, I'll be going home
You'll find the children sound asleep on Christmas Eve
They're dreaming dreams of make believe
You can bet tomorrow, they'll be thrilled
When they awake to find their stockings filled
December
These are the things that I remember
And, so no matter what my fortune may be, or where I may roam
In December, I'll be going home
In December, (December) I'll be going home
In December, I'll be going home
The song "December" by Kay Starr and Billy Butterfield evokes the nostalgia of the holiday season, bringing back memories of Christmases past. The lyrics describe a yearning for the kind of Christmas we used to have when we were younger, with holly and snow, lighted Christmas trees and windows at night, and all the world covered with white. The singer remembers children sound asleep on Christmas Eve, dreaming dreams of make-believe and waking up to find their stockings filled with presents. Despite whatever fortune they may have or wherever they may roam, the singer will always come home in December.
The lyrics of "December" express a sense of longing for a simpler time, when Christmas was full of wonder and magic. The song captures the sentimentality of the season, invoking images of festive decorations and warm, cozy memories. The chorus emphasizes the importance of home and family during the holiday season, suggesting that even if we are far away, we can always find comfort in returning to the familiar traditions of Christmases past.
Line by Line Meaning
December, It always happens in December
The month of December always brings back memories and feelings.
I get a yearning for a Christmas I know, with holly and snow
During December, I long for the Christmases of my past, filled with holiday decorations and snow.
The kind we used to have back home a long time ago
I remember the kind of Christmases we used to have in my hometown long ago.
December, brings back a scene that I remember
The month of December brings back memories of a specific event from my past.
The lighted christmas trees and windows at night
I remember the beautiful and cheerful sight of Christmas trees and window decorations at night.
So cheerful and bright, and all the world a wonderland (all covered with white)
The world was a magical wonderland during Christmas, with everything covered in white snow and the festive decorations shining bright.
Children sound asleep on Christmas Eve
I remember the peaceful sound of children sleeping on Christmas Eve.
They're dreaming dreams of make believe
The children are dreaming of magical possibilities and make-believe scenarios.
You can bet tomorrow, they'll be thrilled
I am certain that the children will be thrilled with what they receive on Christmas morning.
When they awake to find their stockings filled
The children will wake up to find their stockings filled with gifts and treats.
These are the things that I remember
These happy memories of Christmas are what I hold dear.
And, so no matter what my fortune may be, or where I may roam
Regardless of my current circumstances or location,
In December, I'll be going home
I will still be drawn back to my hometown in December to relive the joyful Christmas memories of my past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FLOYD HUDDLESTON, AL RINKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@42believer
December, It always happens in December
I get a yearning for a Christmas I know, with holly and snow
The kind we used to have back home a long time ago
December, brings back a scene that I remember
The lighted christmas trees and windows at night
So cheerful and bright, and all the world a wonderland (all covered with white)
Children sound asleep on Christmas Eve
They're dreaming dreams of make believe
You can bet tomorrow, they'll be thrilled
When they awake to find their stockings filled
December
These are the things that I remember
And, so no matter what my fortune may be, or where I may roam
In December, I'll be going home
You'll find the children sound asleep on Christmas Eve
They're dreaming dreams of make believe
You can bet tomorrow, they'll be thrilled
When they awake to find their stockings filled
December
These are the things that I remember
And, so no matter what my fortune may be, or where I may roam
In December, I'll be going home
In December, (December) I'll be going home
In December, I'll be going home
@bobtaylor170
The criminally underrated and underappreciated Kay Starr. Quite a looker, too. Billie Holliday said Kay Starr was "the only white girl who can sing the blues."
@santinoshariffe2720
found this cd on my dads collection which I remembered my mom buying for Christmas. Everytime I listen to this song (anytime of the year) I always think of my mom and smile. I love yoiu mama papa.
@thebrideoffrankenstein2415
Lol who would thumbs down this?? It's absolutely timelessness....such a beautiful song sung by beautiful Kay Starr
@jourwalis-8875
I can´t see any "thumbs down"!
@rodneyforde1872
I absolutely love this song kay starr was beautiful and so was her voice
@AlmostUniversal
This song makes me so sad this days... but i love Kay Starr.
@Westtoledoguy
WONDERFUL .....love Kay Starr
@carter7937
Happened to stumble across this song on a Christmas oldies playlist and man, I can’t believe I had never heard it before! Merry Christmas - 2020. The year of COVID19. 🙏🏻 hopefully next year is better.
@samuelpajoa215
Great Song! I'd never thought I hear this song playing at a mall in So. Cal. Topanga. Sound so beautiful. MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO ALL!🎄🎁🎅🤶🎄2019
@bbailey861
Beautiful song. One of my holiday favourites.