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.
Nevertheless
Kay Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'd be held under your thumb
I'm like a pawn in your hand
Moved and compelled, at your command
Whether it's for bad or for good
I would never change it if I could
Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong
But nevertheless I'm in love with you
Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose
And maybe I'm in for crying the blues
But nevertheless I'm in love with you
Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking
Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking
Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
And maybe I'll give much more than I get
But nevertheless, I'm in love with you
In spite of all I could do
I went ahead falling for you
So if I laugh or I cry
I made my bed, that's where I'll lie
For what happens there's no excuse
I put my own head in the noose
The opening lines of “Nevertheless” by Kay Starr suggest a sense of resignation to a love interest who possesses a significant amount of control over the singer. She describes feeling like a pawn in someone's hand, and being moved and compelled at their command. Though she recognizes that this person could potentially cause her great harm (bad), she also acknowledges that they could do her a great deal of good as well. Despite not always being sure of herself (“maybe I'm weak”), she also asserts that she “would never change it if I could”.
Moving on to the chorus, the phrase “nevertheless, I’m in love with you” is repeated twice. Here, the singer acknowledges the potential for pain (blues) that could come with being in love with this person, but still maintains that they're in love with them. The phrase “somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking” suggests that there is a clear-eyed understanding that there may be heartbreak in store. Still, the singer seems almost fatalistic, as if they can't help but give in to their love for this person. The third verse further illustrates the scale of love and the potential cost, with the singer acknowledging that there may be regrets in the future, but still remains in love.
Interesting facts about Kay Starr's "Nevertheless":
- The song was originally titled "I Know (At a Glance)" and was written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby in 1931.
- The song was a hit for Bing Crosby in 1931, but has also been covered by other famous artists, such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Dean Martin.
- Kay Starr's version of the song was released in 1951 and reached number two on the pop chart.
- The song was performed by Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in the musical film "Guys and Dolls" (1955).
- The song has been featured in several movies and TV shows over the years, including "The Sting" (1973) and "The Simpsons".
- The song has been translated and recorded in several different languages, including Hebrew, Italian, and Dutch.
- In 2015, American rock band Wilco released a cover of the song on their album "Star Wars".
- The song is often considered a classic example of the "torch song" genre, which originated in the 1920s-30s and features songs about unrequited love and heartbreak.
- Kay Starr was known for her versatility as a vocalist, and was able to sing a wide range of genres, from jazz and pop to country and rockabilly.
- The song's lyrics were later re-used in the song "I'm in Love" by the American pop group Wilson Phillips in 1992.
Chords:
Unfortunately, we cannot provide the chords as they are not available in the original recording.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew the time had to come
I understood that eventually, I would have to yield to your control
When I'd be held under your thumb
I anticipated I would be at the mercy of your power
I'm like a pawn in your hand
I feel like a chess piece you move around at your whim
Moved and compelled, at your command
I am driven to act as you direct me, by an irresistible force
Whether it's for bad or for good
I have no say in the matter, whether it leads to misfortune or happiness
I would never change it if I could
I have accepted my fate, and I would not alter it even if I could
Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong
It is possible that I might be correct or mistaken
Maybe I'm weak, maybe I'm strong
I might be vulnerable or resilient, I cannot say for certain
But nevertheless I'm in love with you
However, despite all uncertainties, I love you without reserve
Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose
I could come out ahead or behind, no one knows what the future holds
And maybe I'm in for crying the blues
It is possible that I will suffer, that I will feel sad
Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking
I am aware that I am taking terrible risks, just by looking at you
Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking
Initially, everything was going well, but then my heart was shattered
Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
Perhaps I will look back on my life with remorse
And maybe I'll give much more than I get
It is possible that I will give more than I will receive from you
But nevertheless, I'm in love with you
Regardless, I love you deeply
In spite of all I could do
Despite any efforts I made
I went ahead falling for you
I still let myself fall in love with you
So if I laugh or I cry
Whether I react positively or negatively
I made my bed, that's where I'll lie
I accept the consequences of my actions, there is no other option
For what happens there's no excuse
I fully acknowledge that I am responsible for any outcomes
I put my own head in the noose
I caused my own downfall by pursuing a relationship with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Herman Ruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John NotGalt
Love just about everything Kay Starr did, and had the pleasure of interviewing her once. But her version of this song just blew me away! This is by far the BEST version of "Nevertheless" I have ever heard. I would never have guessed that this song would sound so great in a blues-rock style. Both the modest instrumentation here and Kay's inflection and timing are excellent beyond words! Does anyone know what year this was recorded and what album this was on? Thanks.
Henri de Lagardère
1962, for her album I Cry By Night (Capitol)
Gerald Wiggins - p; Al Hendrickson - g; Joe Comfort - b; Lee Young - dr;
Manny Klein - tp
CIB67
10/02/11 ... Kay Starr ahhhhh the best! .. Les: Collingswood, NJ
cuike
can anybody recommend me some other songs like this, wether is kay starr or another artist??? i´d really appreciate it guys thanks in advance
Tony Murillo
Kay Starr and count Basie check it out
benny
try Patsy Cline and Doris Day