Ballard was born Catherine Gloria Balotta in Cleveland, Ohio, one of four children born to Italian immigrant parents, Lena (née Nacarato) and Vincenzo (later Vincent James) Balotta. Her siblings are Orlando, Jean, and Rosalie.
Ballard established herself as a musical comedian in the 1940s, joining the Spike Jones touring revue of entertainers. Capable of playing broad physical comedy as well as stand-up dialogue routines, she became familiar in television and stage productions. A phrase her mother had used when Kaye was a child, "Good luck with your MOUTH!", became her catchphrase in her sketches and on television. Ballard made her television debut on Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt,a short-lived NBC program hosted by Henry Morgan which first aired January 26, 1951.
In 1957, she and Alice Ghostley played the two wicked stepsisters in the live telecast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Julie Andrews in the title role. During the 1961–1963 television seasons, Ballard was a regular on NBC's The Perry Como Show as part of the Kraft Music Hall Players, along with Don Adams, Paul Lynde, and Sandy Stewart. In 1962, she released an LP record, Peanuts, on which she played Lucy van Pelt from the comic strip namesake of the album (with Arthur Siegel playing Charlie Brown), and dramatizing a series of vignettes drawn from the strip's archive. In 1964 she had a guest role on The Patty Duke Show, playing a teacher for would-be models. From 1967 to 1969, she co-starred as Kaye Buell, a woman whose son marries her next door neighbor's daughter, in the NBC sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, with Eve Arden playing her neighbor. She also appeared as a regular on The Doris Day Show as restaurant owner Angie Pallucci from 1970 to 1972. She made appearances on the American television game show Match Game. In 1977, she was a guest star on The Muppet Show. She also appeared on the television series Alice, in which she played a kleptomaniac phony medium, as well as Daddy Dearest where she guest-starred opposite Richard Lewis and Don Rickles as a DMV clerk.
Ballard starred on Broadway as Helen in The Golden Apple, introducing the song "Lazy Afternoon". She portrayed Rosalie in Carnival!, Ruth in Joseph Papp's The Pirates of Penzance, and the title role in Molly, an unsuccessful musical adaptation of the popular radio serial The Goldbergs. She created the role of the Countess and closed out-of-town in Marc Blitzstein's Reuben, Reuben, and played Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town at New York City Center in 1963.
In Long Beach, California, she played Mama Morton in Chicago and fought with a vacuum cleaner as Pauline in No, No, Nanette. In 1998, she played Hattie Walker in the Paper Mill Playhouse's acclaimed 1998 revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies. In 2005, she appeared in a road-company production of Nunsense, written by Dan Goggin. The following year, she completed her autobiography, How I Lost 10 Pounds in 53 Years.
In 1995, she was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
She appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! as "Madam A-Go-Go," a mysterious fortune teller who appears in the episode "Fortune Teller". She also performed with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California.
In December 2010, she, Donna McKechnie and Liliane Montevecchi starred in a Santa Fe production of From Broadway with Love, staged at the Lensic Theater.
Ballard was in the 2012 cabaret show Doin' It for Love, which premiered in Austin, Texas, at the historic Paramount Theatre. Starring Ballard and Montevecchi, the cast included Broadway dancer Lee Roy Reams. (The Austin performance benefited the Texas Humane Legislation Network). The show then went on to play in Los Angeles on March 8th and 10th of 2012. Ballard announced her official retirement in 2015 at the age of 89.
Ballard died at her home in Rancho Mirage, California on January 21, 2019 at the age of 93.
Lazy Afternoon
Kaye Ballard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I walked on down the road a mile,
Went to the house that brings a smile
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
And what do you think he said to me?
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
Use your days and save your nights,
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
But what am I supposed to do
Read the writing on the wall
I heard it when I was very small
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Wash my hand in lye water
I got a date with the captains daughter
You can go and tell your brother
We sure gonna love one another, oh!
You may be right and ya might be wrong
I ain't gonna worry all day long
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
My old car froze up last night
Ain't no reason to hang your head
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
Oh! And if I thought it would do any good
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
The lyrics to Kaye Ballard's "Lazy Afternoon" are rich with meanings and messages about life. The song begins with the singer telling the listener how someone named Ollie called them a fool. The singer then decides to take a walk down the road for a mile and goes to their grandpa's house, where they sit on their grandpa's knee. The singer is then told that when they awake, they will remember everything and that they will be hanging on a string from their soul. The lyrics are reflective of someone who is at a crossroads in their life and is seeking advice and guidance on how to move forward.
The theme of being mindful of your choices is clear in the lyrics. Ollie shows the singer a fork in the road and advises them to be careful where they step and watch what they eat. The advice is to use the days and save the nights, indicating a need for balance in life. The lyrics suggest that life is a journey that requires care and attention to make the most of it. Ollie warns the singer that it's a mean old world and that the street doesn't greet you. However, the singer is urged to "read the writing on the wall," which implies that by paying attention to their surroundings, they can make informed decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Ollie told me I'm a fool.
Someone named Ollie criticized and insulted me.
So I walked on down the road a mile,
I left that place and moved on, with some distance.
Went to the house that brings a smile
I went to a familiar, comforting place.
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
I sat close to my grandfather, seeking his advice or comfort.
And what do you think he said to me?
I wanted my grandfather to give me some wisdom, or simply attention.
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will gain perspective and understanding with time.
You will be hangin' on a string from your
You will face pressure and uncertainty.
When you believe
When you have faith or confidence.
You will relieve the only soul
You will comfort and appease yourself.
That you were born with to grow old and never know
The only life you have, which you will never fully understand.
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
Ollie made me aware of two different paths or options.
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
You have different choices to make, some easier than others.
Use your days and save your nights,
Make the most of your time, prioritize your responsibilities.
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Be cautious, vigilant and mindful of your surroundings.
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
If you take precautions and remain alert, you can avoid danger.
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
Ollie cautioned me about how cruel or unfair life can be.
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
People or places can be unwelcoming or unsympathetic.
But what am I supposed to do
I feel lost or uncertain about how to cope with this reality.
Read the writing on the wall
Pay attention to the warning signs or signals.
I heard it when I was very small
I was taught these lessons or morals when I was young.
Wash my hand in lye water
Clean my hands thoroughly.
I got a date with the captains daughter
I have a romantic or social engagement with someone special.
You can go and tell your brother
You can share this news or information with others.
We sure gonna love one another, oh!
We will have a great time together.
You may be right and ya might be wrong
You could be correct, or false, in your opinions or ideas.
I ain't gonna worry all day long
I won't obsess or fret too much over this.
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
There will be unpleasant, cold weather ahead.
My old car froze up last night
My car is not working properly in this weather.
Ain't no reason to hang your head
There is no need to be discouraged or pessimistic.
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
I may face death or uncertainty one day, so I have to accept it.
Oh! And if I thought it would do any good
Oh! And if I felt that something has a positive effect.
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
I would go to great lengths to achieve something important or meaningful.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LATOUCHE, JEROME MOROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marilyn Hayden
An alltime favorite song. I was surprised that Kaye Ballard didn't beome a huge star. Saw her in a nightub act in Washngton DC at her beginning and the audience went wild. She was adorable and hilarious. Glad to see she is still with us. Love ya Kaye.
toyne38
I love this version by Kaye Ballard...my favorite!
sopranosd
She is wonderful -- I remember her in The Mothers in Law, and she was fantastic in the original Carnival.
Stephen Mir
I love this show and, in particular, Ballard's original version of this great song. There are so many details to savor but I delight in sound she produces for "noon" ...it's yummy!
Steps Curriculum
I love Kaye Ballard!! Thanks for sharing this!
Marcus André
Wonderful! I love the Barbra Streisand version,the arrangement is amazing,so i resolve to search for the original version.ThanX 4 this video! :)
Perry Weiner
This is it, fella!
Eliot Brown
Just fell in love with the Streisand version via "Radio Deluxe." I am delighted to see this presentation and very much appreciate Ballard's original version. She could really sing. Very clean transfer, by the way. Heck of a year, 1954... the year I was born.
David Traub
Morgana King had the most amazing recording of this on "Cuore Di Mama" album.
Anacapa Ross
This was one of the first big 12-inch OCs I ever obtained. Found it in a bargain bin in Harrisburg, PA. I was thrilled. Still have it. Love the old RCA green label. And this track. Love the dreamy vibes in the orchestration.