Wiley was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. While still in her early teens, she left home to pursue a singing career with the Leo Reisman band. Her career was temporarily interrupted by a fall while horseback riding. Wiley suffered temporary blindness, but recovered, and at the age of 19 was back with Reisman again, with whom she recorded three songs: "Take It From Me," "Time On My Hands," and her own composition, "Got The South In My Soul." She sang with Paul Whiteman and later, the Casa Loma Orchestra. A collaboration with composer Victor Young resulted in several songs for which Wiley wrote the lyrics, including "Got The South in My Soul" and "Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere," the latter an R&B hit in the 1950s.
In 1939, Wiley recorded eight Gershwin songs on 78s with a small group for Liberty Music Shops. The set sold well and was followed by 78s dedicated to the music of Cole Porter (1940) and Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (1940 and 1954), Harold Arlen (1943), and 10" LPs dedicated to the music of Vincent Youmans and Irving Berlin (1951). The players on these recordings included Bunny Berigan, Bud Freeman, Max Kaminsky, Fats Waller, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, Stan Freeman, Cy Walter, and the bandleader Jess Stacy, to whom Wiley was married for a number of years. These influential albums launched the concept of a "songbook" (often featuring lesser-known songs), which was later widely imitated by other singers.
Wiley's career made a resurgence in 1950 with the much admired ten-inch album Night in Manhattan. In 1954, she opened the very first Newport Jazz Festival accompanied by Bobby Hackett. Later in the decade she recorded two of her finest albums, West of the Moon (1956) and A Touch of the Blues (1957). In the 1960s, Wiley retired, although she acted in a 1963 television film, Something About Lee Wiley, which told her life story. The film stimulated interest in the singer. Her last public appearance was a concert in Carnegie Hall in 1972 as part of the New York Jazz Festival, where she was enthusiastically received.
I've Got a Crush on You
Lee Wiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would be to capture me
But you had such persistence, you wore down my resistance
I fell and it was swell
I'm your big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you I shall never never know
It's not that you're attractive
When you came into view
I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night time give me sigh
I never had the least notion that
I could fall with so much emotion
Could you coo, could you care?
For a cunning cottage we could share
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I have got a crush on you
Could you coo, could you care?
For a cunning cottage
That we could share
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I have got a crush, my baby, on you
In the song "I've Got a Crush on You" by Lee Wiley, the singer expresses her infatuation with a man, admitting that he wasn't necessarily physically attractive to her but she couldn't help but fall for him anyway. She mentions the number of women who would have been happy to be with her crush, but it was his persistence that won her over. The lyrics indicate that she has deep emotions for him and that she daydreams about being with him. The song repeatedly questions her crush's feelings towards her, asking if he could reciprocate her emotions and if he would be interested in sharing a cottage with her. Overall, the song captures the feeling of being deeply drawn to someone who may not seem all that special to others, but means the world to you.
Line by Line Meaning
How glad the many millions of Annabelles and Lillians
The singer acknowledges that many women would love to be with them.
Would be to capture me
These women would love to have the singer's heart.
But you had such persistence, you wore down my resistance
Despite initial resistance to the singer, the listener's persistence won them over.
I fell and it was swell
The artist has fallen in love with the listener and is happy about it.
I'm your big and brave and handsome Romeo
The artist is confident and sure of themselves.
How I won you I shall never never know
The singer is surprised and grateful to have won the listener's affection.
It's not that you're attractive
The singer is attracted to the listener for more than just their physical appearance.
But, oh, my heart grew active
The listener ignited a passionate feeling in the artist's heart.
When you came into view
The artist was immediately drawn to the listener upon first seeing them.
I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
The artist has developed strong feelings for the listener, using an affectionate nickname to address them.
All the day and night time give me sigh
The singer can't stop thinking about the listener, causing them to sigh regularly.
I never had the least notion that
The artist never expected to fall in love with the listener.
I could fall with so much emotion
The singer has never felt such intense feelings before.
Could you coo, could you care?
The singer is wondering if the listener feels the same way.
For a cunning cottage we could share
The singer is suggesting the possibility of a future together, using a romantic phrase to describe a potential home.
The world will pardon my mush
The artist acknowledges that their feelings might seem silly or foolish to others.
'Cause I have got a crush on you
The artist is reaffirming their strong feelings for the listener and expressing their love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kathy Raygoza
What a beautiful arrangement with Bobby Hackett backing and the incomparable Lee Wiley. Recently someone put together a homage to
Anthony Valentine a superb British actor using I've Got A Crush On You. I Wish they had used this recording as Bobby Hacketts soft but masculine sound is a perfect intro to Lee Wileys beautiful sensuous voice. PS I bought to of her reissued albums in late 70s poor early 90s, great timeless recordings.
jane paddon
Wonderful.
Kathy Raygoza
Dear Hisashi. A further comment . Just got through listening to Lee Wileys rendition, if you have time please pull it out on YouTube and let your imagination compare Bobby Hacketts gorgeous sound to Anthony Valentine's vocal speaking range. Hacketts intro is like listening to Valentine's voice bringing back old memories of why we have a crush on him. Once again thank you for the lovely memories.
K Hussein
Romantic!