At the age of twelve she saw an advertisment in the local newspapers for juvenile dancers and passed the audition.
By sixteen [at the hight of the Nazi Blitz-bombing raids on Liverpool she answered another advert, when she managed to secure a job as a singer in the "New Yorker" - a Southport, Merseyside club. She got that job at £5 a week, then shortly afterwards signed up with the Harry Roy Orchestra in London. She moved on from this to work with other bands of the era including that of Edmundo Ros.
By the time she was eighteen war-ravaged London was still a dangerous place to work and she had decided to retire from show business - choosing marriage to an American and a life in Miami in exchange. London was full of American servicemen at the time, one of whom Roza married and off they went to safety in America.
However, this did not last and shortly after WW2 she returned to the UK In 1950 she became lead female singer with the Ted Heath Band, and by 1954 had achieved enough public acclaim to leave the band and pursue a solo recording career on her own.
1956 she married the trumpet player, Ronnie Harris.
She remained a top UK recording artist during the remainder of the 1950s, but her subsequent recordings never recaptured the magic she had shown while with Ted Heath.[citation needed]
She was voted the 'Top British Female Singer' in the New Musical Express' pool winners charts consecutively from 1951 to 1955. Melody Maker readers also voted her their 'Top Girl Singer' in the Dance Band section of their pools in 1951 and 1952.
Her 1953 number one hit record "How Much is that Doggie in the Window?" afforded Roza the privilege of being the first British female singer to top the UK Singles Chart.
On Wednesday March 14, 2001 a Wall of Fame was inaugurated opposite the famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street, in downtown Liverpool, with Roza presiding at the ceremony.
At November 28, 2002, in Liverpool, she gave her last public performance on Radio Merseyside.
Lita Roza died peacefully at home on 14 August 2008, aged 82.
High Noon
Lita Roza Lyrics
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On this, our weddin' day
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Wait, wait along
I do not know what fate awaits me
I only know I must be brave
And I must face a man who hates me
Or lie a coward in my grave
Oh, to be torn 'twixt love and duty
S'posin' I lose my fair-haired beauty
Look at that big hand move along
Nearin' high noon
He made a vow while in state prison
Vowed it would be my life or his'n
I'm not afraid of death but oh
What will I do if you leave me?
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
You made that promise as a bride
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Although you're grievin', don't think of leavin'
Now that I need you by my side
Wait along, (wait along) wait along
Wait along, wait along
(Wait along, wait along, wait along, wait along)
Lita Roza's High Noon is a song about a man who is about to face his enemy in a duel at noon, and he is uncertain if he will live or die. He urges his lover not to leave him because he is scared of facing his enemy alone. He knows that he must stand up against the man who hates him, regardless of his fate. The song speaks to the idea of being brave in the face of danger and fulfilling one's promises, even when it is difficult.
The dichotomy between love and duty is also expressed in the song. The singer is torn between his love for his bride, who he may lose, and his duty to face his enemy. He is unsure of what to do, and the ticking clock adds to the tension in the song. The melody is haunting, adding to the sense of uncertainty and suspense.
Interestingly, Lita Roza's version of the song was released in 1952 and was the only British recording ever to receive a Gold disc, selling over a million copies. It was also covered by Frankie Laine, Tex Ritter, and other artists. The song was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin, with lyrics by Ned Washington, for the film High Noon, which starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. High Noon is considered one of the greatest Western films of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Please do not abandon me, my love,
On this, our weddin' day
On the day of our wedding,
Wait, wait along
Please wait with me for what's to come,
I do not know what fate awaits me
I am uncertain what destiny has in store for me,
I only know I must be brave
All I know is I must show courage,
And I must face a man who hates me
I must confront an individual who despises me,
Or lie a coward, a craven coward
Otherwise, I could be considered a coward, a spineless coward,
Or lie a coward in my grave
Or else suffer the fate of being considered a coward in the afterlife,
Oh, to be torn 'twixt love and duty
Oh, the anguish of being divided between my love and duty,
S'posin' I lose my fair-haired beauty
Imagining the possibility of losing my beloved,
Look at that big hand move along
Observe the time quickly filling up,
Nearin' high noon
Nearing the moment of truth,
He made a vow while in state prison
He made a promise during his time in jail,
Vowed it would be my life or his'n
Swore that it would be either my death or his own,
I'm not afraid of death but oh
I do not fear death, but oh,
What will I do if you leave me?
What will happen if you abandon me?
You made that promise as a bride
You made that vow when we got married,
Although you're grievin', don't think of leavin'
Even as you mourn, please don't abandon me,
Now that I need you by my side
Now, when I need you the most,
Wait along, (wait along) wait along
Please continue to wait with me for what's to come
Wait along, wait along
Please continue to wait with me for what's to come
(Wait along, wait along, wait along, wait along)
Please continue to wait with me for what's to come
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind