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.
I've Changed My Mind a Thousand Times
Kay Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've changed my mind a thousand times
But you're still the only one for me
I've told myself, this is wrong
But my heart seems to know where I belong
I've been pounded out
When our romance was all it seemed
I've changed my mind a thousand times
But you're still the only thrill
The only one who every will
Please me
The only...
The only one for me
(Doo wop, doo wop)
[Bridge:]
I've changed my mind a thousand times
But you're still the only thrill
The only one who every will
The only...
The only one for me
The song "I've Changed My Mind A Thousand Times" by Kay Starr is a heart-wrenching ballad about the uncertainty of love. The lyrics express the singer's hesitation and confusion in making a commitment to a loved one. She has second thoughts and is unsure of what is right, but ultimately comes to the realization that this person is the one for her.
The repetition of the phrase "I've changed my mind a thousand times" highlights the indecisiveness and anguish of the singer, who is torn between her head and her heart. While her mind tells her that this relationship is wrong, her heart knows that this person is where she belongs. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has faced obstacles in her relationship, reflected in the lines "I've given up, I've been pounded out". Despite these challenges, however, she still believes that this person is the only one who can truly please her.
Overall, the song portrays the complicated nature of love and the struggle to make the right decision. It conveys the message that sometimes love can be confusing and difficult, but ultimately, following your heart can lead to happiness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
I've changed my mind a thousand times
I have consistently wavered in my decisions and choices regarding us numerous times
But you're still the only one for me
Despite my constant doubts and second thoughts, you remain the sole occupant of my heart
I've told myself, this is wrong
My conscience has repeatedly informed me that continuing this relationship may not be the best decision
But my heart seems to know where I belong
Although my logical thinking contradicts, my emotions have a sense of belonging with you
I've given up
I've surrendered or resigned to fate concerning our romance
I've been pounded out
I have undergone tough moments and difficulties due to our romance
When our romance was all it seemed
At the beginning, the only thing that appeared to matter was our love story
But you're still the only thrill
In spite of any dullness that may have come up, you remain the only one who keeps me excited
The only one who every will
No one else can replace you in this aspect
Please me
You satisfy and make me happy
The only...
You are the sole one; nothing else compares
The only one for me
You are the perfect choice for me; no one else can take your place
(Doo wop, doo wop)
Vocals that hum out the melody of the song
I've changed my mind a thousand times
My thoughts and mindset have had numerous modifications
But you're still the only thrill
You are the only thing that pumps up my adrenaline
The only one who every will
No one else will ever be this important to me
The only...
You hold the number one position in my life always
The only one for me
You are the perfect fit for me, and I don't want anyone else
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Walsh
What an amazing pair of lungs this lady has. She was a great song stylist. One of the best singers ever
MaxThunderBerry
bruh