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.
Hes Funny That Way
Kay Starr Lyrics
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Now she seems quite out of place, like a fallen star
Draped around my kitchen sink , Happy as can be
I just have to stop and think, Why she fell for me.
I'm not much to look at, nothing to see
Just glad I'm livin' and lucky to be
I got a woman crazy for me
I can't save a dollar, ain't worth a cent
She doesn't holler she'd live in a tent
I got a woman crazy for me
She's funny that way.
Tho' she loves to work and slave for me ev'ry day
She'd be so much better off if I went away.
But why should I leave her, why should I go
She'd be unhappy without me I know
I got a woman crazy for me
She's funny that way.
She should have the very best, Anyone can see
Still she's diff'rent from the rest, satisfied with me.
While I worry plan and scheme, Over what to do
Can't help feeling it's a dream, Too good to be true.
Never had nothin'; no one to care
That's why I seem to have more than my share,
I got a woman, crazy for me,
She's funny that way.
When I hurt her feelings, once in a while,
Her only answer is one little smile,
I got a woman crazy for me.
She's funny that way.
I can see no other way and no better plan,
End it all and let her go to some better man;
But I'm only human, coward at best
I'm more than certain she'd follow me west,
I got a woman crazy for me,
She's funny that way.
The lyrics to Kay Starr's "He's Funny That Way" tell the story of a man who is surprised and amazed that the woman he loves has chosen him. The first stanza describes her previous life of luxury and elegance, and then contrasts it with her current state of contentment as she drapes herself around the kitchen sink. He cannot help but stop and wonder why she fell for him, as he feels he has nothing to offer her in terms of material possessions or looks. The line "she's funny that way" is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the singer's awe and confusion at the woman's love for him.
The second stanza reinforces the idea that the man is not wealthy or successful, yet the woman loves him anyway. She is happy to live in a tent and does not demand that he save money or provide for her in any particular way. The man acknowledges that the woman would be better off without him, but he cannot bring himself to leave her, as he understands that she loves him deeply. He is grateful for her presence in his life and realizes that he has more than his share of happiness because of her.
The final stanza concludes with the man admitting that he is a coward and could not bear to leave the woman, even if it were for her own good. He knows that she would follow him wherever he goes, and he is content with that fact. In the end, he is amazed by the woman's loyalty and love for him, and he is grateful to have her in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls Royce car
In the past, she had wealth and luxury, but now she appears to have fallen from grace.
Now she seems quite out of place, like a fallen star
Her current situation is not one of wealth, and she appears to be lost, like a fallen star.
Draped around my kitchen sink , Happy as can be
She finds joy in the simple things in life and is content being around him in the kitchen.
I just have to stop and think, Why she fell for me.
He's curious as to why she loves him despite the fact that he has little to offer her.
I'm not much to look at, nothing to see
He doesn't have much to offer in terms of wealth or appearance.
Just glad I'm livin' and lucky to be
Despite his lack of fortune, he's grateful to be alive and lucky to have her love.
I got a woman crazy for me
He has a woman who is deeply in love with him, despite his shortcomings.
She doesn't holler she'd live in a tent
She's willing to live in any conditions with him, as long as she's with him.
Tho' she loves to work and slave for me ev'ry day
She's willing to work hard for him every day, despite not receiving much in return.
She'd be so much better off if I went away.
He believes that she deserves better and would be better off without him.
But why should I leave her, why should I go
He's torn between doing what's best for her and not wanting to lose her.
She'd be unhappy without me I know
He believes that she wouldn't be happy without him, even if he's not the best boyfriend.
She should have the very best, Anyone can see
It's clear to everyone that she deserves the best in life.
Still she's diff'rent from the rest, satisfied with me.
She's different from other women because she's content with being with him, despite his shortcomings.
While I worry plan and scheme, Over what to do
He's constantly thinking about what he should do, but he can't quite figure out the best course of action.
Can't help feeling it's a dream, Too good to be true.
He can hardly believe that she loves him despite his shortcomings and feels like it's all just a dream.
Never had nothin'; no one to care
He's never had much in life and he's never had anyone care for him before her.
That's why I seem to have more than my share,
He feels like he has more than he deserves because she loves him despite his shortcomings.
When I hurt her feelings, once in a while, Her only answer is one little smile,
Even when he hurts her feelings, she forgives him with a small smile.
I can see no other way and no better plan, End it all and let her go to some better man;
He can't see a way to make things better and thinks that it would be best if she were with someone else.
But I'm only human, coward at best, I'm more than certain she'd follow me west,
He knows he's not perfect and he's afraid to leave, but he knows she would follow him anywhere.
I got a woman crazy for me, She's funny that way.
Despite his shortcomings, he has a woman who loves him deeply, and he thinks it's strange or 'funny' that she does.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Neil Moret, Richard Whiting
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind