Born in Belhaven, North Carolina, she moved to the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York, at a young age. Although some sources claim that her stage name was inspired by a character from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, she stated in an interview that she was named after her aunt, which prompted her family to call her "Little Eva." As a teenager, she worked as a maid and earned extra money as a babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It is often claimed that Goffin and King were amused by Boyd's particular dancing style, so they wrote "The Loco-Motion" for her and had her record it as a demo (the record was intended for Dee Dee Sharp).
However, as King said in an interview with NPR and in her "One to One" concert video, they knew she could sing when they met her, and it would be just a matter of time before they would have her record songs they wrote, the most successful being "The Loco-Motion."
Music producer Don Kirshner of Dimension Records was impressed by the song and Boyd's voice and had it released. The song reached #1 in the United States in 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. After the success of "The Loco-Motion," Boyd was stereotyped as a dance-craze singer and was given limited material.
The same year, Goffin and King wrote "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)" (performed by the Crystals) after discovering that Boyd was being regularly beaten by her boyfriend. When they inquired why she tolerated such treatment, Eva replied without batting an eyelid that her boyfriend's actions were motivated by his love for her.
Phil Spector's arrangement of the song was ominous and ambiguous.
It was a brutal song, as any attempt to justify such violence must be, and Spector's arrangement only amplified its savagery, framing Barbara Alston's lone vocal amid a sea of caustic strings and funereal drums, while the backing vocals almost trilled their own belief that the boy had done nothing wrong. In more ironic hands (and a more understanding age), 'He Hit Me' might have passed at least as satire. But Spector showed no sign of appreciating that, nor did he feel any need to. No less than the song's writers, he was not preaching, he was merely documenting.
Boyd's other single recordings were "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby," "Let's Turkey Trot," and a remake of the Bing Crosby standard "Swinging on a Star," recorded with Big Dee Irwin (though Boyd was not credited on the label). Boyd also recorded the song "Makin' With the Magilla" for an episode of the 1964 Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Magilla Gorilla Show.
She continued to tour and record throughout the sixties, but her commercial potential plummeted after 1964. She retired from the music industry in 1971. She never owned the rights to her recordings. Although the prevailing rumor in the 1970s was that she had received only $50 for "The Loco-Motion," it seems $50 was actually her weekly salary at the time she made her records (an increase of $15 from what Goffin and King had been paying her as nanny). Penniless, she returned with her three young children to North Carolina, where they lived in obscurity.
Interviewed in 1988 after the success of the Kylie Minogue cover version of "The Loco-Motion", Boyd stated that she did not like the new version; however its then-current popularity allowed her to make a comeback in show business.
She returned to live performing with other artists of her era on the cabaret and oldies circuits. She also occasionally recorded new songs.
The only existing footage of Little Eva performing "Loco-Motion" is a small clip from the ABC sixties live show Shindig! where she sang a short version of the clip along with the famous dance steps. She also sang "Let's Turkey Trot" and the Exciters' song "I Want You to Be My Boy" in the same episode. This TV show was one of her final performances until 1988, when she began performing in concerts with Bobby Vee and other singers. In a 1991 Richard Nader concert, she performed "Loco-Motion" and "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby". The concert was partially documented on videotape, albeit of marginal quality.
She continued performing until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2001. She died on April 10, 2003 in Kinston, North Carolina, at the age of 59, and is buried in a small cemetery in Belhaven, North Carolina. Her gravesite was sparsely marked until July 2008, when a report by WRAL-TV of Raleigh, North Carolina highlighted deteriorating conditions at the cemetery and efforts by the city of Belhaven to have it restored. A simple white cross had marked the site until a new gravestone was unveiled in November of that year. Her new grey gravestone has the image of a steam locomotive prominently engraved on the front and the epitaph reads: "Singing with the Angels".
Swinging On A Star
Little Eva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Oh, oh, oh)
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
(Oh, oh, oh)
And be better off than you are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Or would you rather be a mule
A mule is an animal
With long funny ears
He kicks up at anything he hears
(Just like you, Dee)
His back is brawny
And his brain is weak
He's just plain stupid
With a stubborn streak
And by the way
If you hate to go to school
(Which I do)
You may grow up to be a mule
(I don't wanna grow up
And be a mule)
Well, would you like to
Swing on a star (okay)
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
(One moonbeam, two moonbeam)
And be better off than you are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Or would you rather be a pig
(Yeah, yeah, talking 'bout a pig now)
A pig is an animal
With dirt on his face (yeah)
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
(Look who's talking)
He's got no manners
When he eats his food
(You gobble)
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
But if you don't care
A feather or a fig
(That's the truth)
You may grow up to be a pig
(Not if I can help it, baby)
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh, oh
Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
You could be swinging on a star
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star
The song "Swinging On A Star" by Little Eva is a playful and whimsical tune that poses a thought-provoking question to the listener: "Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? And be better off than you are?" The first verse provides some fantasy imagery of swinging on a star and capturing moonbeams, suggesting that the singer feels as though these things would make them happier and more fulfilled. The second verse then poses an alternative, suggesting that the listener could choose to be a mule or a pig instead, but the descriptions of these animals are less than flattering, with the mule being stupid and stubborn and the pig being rude and lazy. The overall message of the song is that it's important to dream big and strive for greatness, because settling for less will leave you feeling unfulfilled and unhappy.
One interpretation of this song is that it's a playful commentary on the importance of ambition and imagination. The singer is suggesting that there are opportunities to be found in life, but you need to have the courage to reach out and grab them, rather than settling for less. The second verse, with its descriptions of mules and pigs, serves as a kind of warning about the dangers of complacency and contentment with a mediocre existence. By contrasting these animals with the magical imagery of the first verse, the song encourages listeners to embrace their dreams and pursue their passions.
Another interpretation of the song is that it's a simple and catchy children's tune that encourages imaginative play. By inviting listeners to imagine themselves swinging on a star and capturing moonbeams, the song fosters a sense of whimsy and creativity, while also providing a fun and memorable melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you like to swing on a star
Do you want to achieve something great?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
Bring something unique and special in your life.
And be better off than you are
Have a better life than you have now.
Or would you rather be a mule
Or do you want to remain uneducated and stubborn?
A mule is an animal
It is a beast with a distinct character.
With long funny ears
It has long, unusual ears that make it look comical.
He kicks up at anything he hears
It's temperament is such that it kicks anything it hears, sometimes even without any valid reasons.
His back is brawny
It has a strong back
And his brain is weak
However, it is not known for its intelligence.
He's just plain stupid
It is oft-referred to as being a stupid animal.
With a stubborn streak
It is known to be very obstinate sometimes.
And by the way
Incidentally
If you hate to go to school
If you dislike education
Which I do
As do I
You may grow up to be a mule
You may always be uneducated and stubborn like a mule
Well, would you like to swing on a star (okay)
Again, do you want to achieve big things in your life?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar (One moonbeam, two moonbeam)
Do something unique and extraordinary, like capturing moonbeams in a jar.
And be better off than you are
Improve your life.
Or would you rather be a pig (Yeah, yeah, talking 'bout a pig now)
Or do you want to be lazy and sloppy like a pig?
A pig is an animal
It is a domesticated animal that is often used for its meat.
With dirt on his face (yeah)
It often has mud or dirt on its face.
His shoes are a terrible disgrace (Look who's talking)
It's hooves are muddy and unkempt.
He's got no manners
It is not well-behaved.
When he eats his food (You gobble)
It makes loud, unpleasant noises when eating.
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
It's often too fat and lazy, and is not well-mannered.
But if you don't care
If you really do not mind
A feather or a fig (That's the truth)
Then you might not care about anything.
You may grow up to be a pig (Not if I can help it, baby)
You may end being a lazy, dirty pig if you don't pay attention.
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
melody only
We could be swinging on a star
We could all achieve and do something great with our lives.
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
melody only
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny Burke, Jimmy Heusen-van
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patrickstocks3576
Would you like to swing on a star 💫
(Oh, oh, oh)
Carry moonbeams home in a jar 🏺
(Oh, oh, oh)
And be better off than you are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Or would you rather be a mule
(Yeah, yeah, talking ‘bout a mule now)
A mule is an animal 🦓
With long funny ears 👂
He kicks up at anything he hears
(Just like you, Dee)
His back is brawny
And his brain is weak
He’s just plain stupid
With a stubborn streak
And by the way
If you hate to go to school 🏫
(Which I do)
You may grow up to be a mule
(I don’t wanna grow up ⬆️
And be a mule)
Well, would you like to
Swing on a star ⭐️ (OK)
Carry moonbeams home in a jar 🏺
(1 moonbeam, 2 moonbeam)
And be better off than you are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Or would you rather be a pig 🐖
(Yeah, yeah, talking ‘bout a pig 🐖 now)
A pig is an animal 🦔
With dirt on his face (yeah)
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
(Look who’s talking)
He’s got no manners
When he eats his food 🥘
(You gobble)
He’s fat & lazy and extremely rude
But if you don’t care 🤷♀️
A feather 🪶 or a fig
(That’s the truth)
You may grow up to be a pig 🐖
(Not if I can help it, baby)
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh, oh
Would you like to swing on a star 💫
Carry moonbeams home in a jar 🏺
And be better off than you are
You could be swinging on a star 💫
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star 💫
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star 💫
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star 💫
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
We could be swinging on a star 💫
@juliaschade4097
My husband sent me this & I just love ❤❤❤❤!!!!
@Agnethatheredhairkid
I remember hearing this at the age of 4 in 1963. It's been in my head for days so I checked it out. I'd forgotten how good it is.
@jerryj920
June 29th: Happy birthday Pop / R&R Singer Eva Narcissus Boyd / Little Eva (1943-2003) Thank you and God bless. RIP....Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello have a very nice / fun version. Thank you, Thomas Sunderland for the upload of this classic. Blessings...#keeprockin
@einsteinisgreat
I have been searching for this for years. FANTASTIC!!!
@ColumRogers
The best version in my opinion, love the way Little Eva interrupts him during the verses, Lol...
@oliviag9888
I remember this song, my sister and I use to sing it all the time. Wow this brings back memories. Very nice!🙂
@kevinskad4life799
Yeah Little Eva makes the magic happen with her backing vocals all round legendary single
@davidwalsh3439
Just simply a classic sixties song. This song always puts me in a great mood.
@ianwood-zi7fh
I used to play this when I was a little boy sounds so good today as it did back in the swinging 60s awesome
@beccaelliott-shorten9053
Best version! I used to listen to this as a little girl . I'm 24 but this song will always be my favourite ❤️