Elliot was widely considered the most charismatic member of the Mamas & the Papas due to her sense of humor and optimism, in part because of her large size and weight. She was one of the most beloved members of the group, and her warm, distinctive voice was a large factor in their success. She is best remembered for her vocals on the group's Billboard hits "California Dreamin", "Monday, Monday", and "Words of Love", as well as her first hit as an independent act, "Dream a Little Dream Of Me".
Cass was in love with fellow Mamas & Papas band member Denny Doherty. His affair with another married band member, Michelle Phillips, was one of the causes of the break-up of the band. Elliot resented Michelle's perceived betrayal of their friendship and helped to support the band's decision to fire Michelle in June 1966, when it became clear that John Phillips could no longer work with her. The band quickly replaced Michelle with Jill Gibson, girlfriend to their producer Lou Adler. However, by late August of 1966, Michelle was let back into the group, while Jill received a lump sum for her efforts. Gibson would later admit to feeling betrayed by the band.
Cass gave birth to a daughter named Owen Vanessa Elliot, on 26 April 1967, without naming the father.
Elliot guest-starred three times on Julie Andrews's 1973 television series, The Julie Andrews Hour. Cass's voice blended surprisingly well with that of Andrews, given their stylistic differences, and they created a pleasing onscreen chemistry. Cass also made guest appearances on The Carol Burnett Show.
Elliot was a close friend and neighbor of coffee heiress Abigail Folger, who was a victim of the Charles Manson murders. She was also close to actress Sharon Tate, writer Wojciech Frykowski, and international hairdresser Jay Sebring, all victims of the Manson madness in the summer of 1969. Singer and performer Sammy Davis, Jr. was also a good friend of Elliot and this group, and Davis has been quoted as saying that they had all been together days before the tragedy, and were it not for he and Cass each flying off to other gigs that week, they too could have been victims of the Manson Family.
After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas in July 1968, Elliot went on to have a successful solo career, even headlining briefly in Las Vegas, for the whopping contract at that time of USD$40,000 per week. Though her Vegas gig ended badly, she was a regular on TV talk shows and variety shows in the 1970s. Her most successful recording during this period was Dream a Little Dream of Me from her solo album of the same name, released by Dunhill Records. At the height of her career in 1974, having just finished performing at the London Palladium theatre, she died of a heart attack. The coroner surmised her heart had weakened to the point of failure due to Elliot's weight and the effects of several crash diets over the years.
Elliot was married twice. In 1963 she wed James Hendricks; they divorced in 1968 (Hendricks had been a member of "Cass Elliot and the Big Three," later named "The Mugwumps"). In 1971 she married Baron Donald von Wiedenman, a journalist.
It should be noted, that Mama Cass died in the exact same bed, in the exact same room, (although a few years prior), as manic drummer of The Who, Keith Moon, in an apartment owned by singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.
An urban legend holds that Elliot died while choking on a sandwich, sometimes specified as a "ham" sandwich. Shortly after her death, but before her autopsy, The Times published an article that quoted her doctor as speculating that she "probably... died as a result of choking on a sandwich while lying in bed". However, the coroner found no food in her trachea, and reported the cause of death as heart failure. Nevertheless, the rumor spread, with the popular imagination adding that the sandwich contained ham (it possibly originated as an unkind remark about Elliot's weight). Another version of the story holds that the doctor found a sandwich or partially eaten sandwich in her room, causing him to speculate about the cause of death. Apparently, that version of the story has no corroboration either.
Another popular myth circulated about Elliot. While the Mamas & the Papas were touring as The Magic Circle (their name before changing it to The Mamas & the Papas), Elliot begged friend Denny Doherty to let her join the band. Though she had a great voice, the band's leader, John Phillips, didn't feel her voice blended well with the band's other female vocalist, his wife Michelle Phillips. But Elliot followed the band wherever they appeared, even to an engagement in the Virgin Islands. Here, she was finally accepted into the band. The myth purports that while in VI, a piece of copper tubing fell on her head and miraculously changed her voice. Though untrue, the myth has been repeated by such music professionals as Casey Kasem. Elliot was hit on the head with a copper pipe during a nightclub renovation, but it had no effect on her voice. The myth was apparently started by band member John Phillips as a justification for letting her into the band after initially refusing to allow her to join. He tells the story himself on the PBS special California Dreamin': The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas, insisting it's true.
Both rumors were mentioned in the Filmfour-produced film Beautiful Thing, of which Mama Cass' music is a big feature.
The E! True Hollywood Story biography about Elliot reports (and revives) the completely unfounded and baseless rumor that singer/songwriter John Lennon of The Beatles may have been the father of Elliot's daughter, Owen. This rumor most likely originated from Cass's fantasies due to her obsession with the Beatle -- demonstrated in the Mamas and the Papas rendition of the song "I Call Your Name," written by Lennon/McCartney, in which Cass literally calls out John's (Lennon) name. Many, many years later after the death of Mama Cass, bandmate Michelle Phillips helped Owen find her real biological father.
The song "Make Your Own Kind of Music" was featured in the ABC television show LOST, during the opening of season 2. It was played by Desmond to distract the survivors entering the Hatch.
dream of me
Mama Cass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
The song "Dream a Little Dream of Me" by Mama Cass is a classic love song that has endured for decades since its release in 1968. The song is a sweet lullaby about love and longing, and it captures the feeling of wanting to be close to someone even when they are not physically there. The opening lines, "Stars shining bright above you/Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'/Birds singing in the sycamore tree/Dream a little dream of me," set the romantic and dream-like tone of the song. The singer is inviting their lover to dream of them and their love, even if they are far apart.
The chorus of the song, "Say 'night-ie night' and kiss me/Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me/While I'm alone and blue as can be/Dream a little dream of me," continues to express longing and a desire for a loved one's closeness. The singer wants to feel their lover's affection and reassurance, knowing that it will bring them comfort even if they are apart.
The song's verses and chorus are beautifully crafted with poetic and meaningful lyrics that convey the pain of separation and the need for love and connection. The lines, "Stars fading but I linger on, dear/Still craving your kiss/I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear/Just saying this," give an impression of the singer's unfulfilled longing to be with their beloved.
Overall, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" is an ageless classic love song that captures the essence of the feeling that love invokes in one's heart. The singer's voice and the touching lyrics make this song a perfect dedication to a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars shining bright above you
The stars are shining bright above you, meaning that there is hope and good things to come in your life.
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
The night breezes seem to whisper "I love you", which is a reassuring feeling that someone deeply cares for you and wishes you well.
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Birds are singing joyfully in the sycamore tree, indicating that you are not alone and that there is beauty in the world around you.
Dream a little dream of me
Escape from reality and dream a little dream of me, which is a call for comfort and loving companionship.
Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me
Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me, which implies a deep connection and the desire for the comfort of another person.
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me, which is a need for affection and the knowledge that someone is longing for you while you are apart.
While I'm alone and blue as can be
While I am alone and blue as can be, this signals loneliness and sadness.
Dream a little dream of me
Dream a little dream of me for the comfort and reassurance that someone is there for you even when you're alone.
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Although the stars are fading, the artist is lingering on, meaning that they are persevering even in difficult situations.
Still craving your kiss
The artist is still craving your kiss, communicating the depth of their desire to be close to another person.
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear
The singer is longing to linger until dawn, indicating that they wish to spend their time with someone they love and care about.
Just saying this
The artist is just saying this to communicate their feelings.
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
The singer wishes sweet dreams until sunbeams find you, imparting the idea that better times are coming.
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you, expressing the singer's desire for you to be free of burdens and enjoy peaceful rest.
But in your dreams whatever they be
But in your dreams, whatever they may be, this is a call for you to find comfort and safety in your subconscious mind.
Dream a little dream of me
Once again, the artist is calling for you to dream of them and find solace in that dream world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., T.R.O. INC.
Written by: FABIAN ANDRE, GUS KAHN, WILBUR SCHWANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kevinmcconnell9426
I learned about perfect pitch in HS choir, in the early 70’s. I’ve heard many people use the term not knowing what it means.
There’s a few different terms called perfect pitch, most any trained musicians can meet.
The one I learned they don’t have a number of people that possess it.
That would be to sing any note of the scale on demand, and of course all within ones range.
If that’s what you understood it to be, all good, if not please in the future refrain from throwing around terms you’ve heard, but don’t know for a fact what it is.
Myself I have to find middle c first, then hit whatever note was called for. Of course that was before my 5/20/14 stroke that stole my Sinatra quality baritone, Bing Crosby quality whistle, master orators diction ability, instant access to an Oxford dictionary of words, and train of thought, I run into walks when ranting, and I get tongue tied when I rant to quickly;(;(
But I can still walk a 12 minute mile, and all my filangzees work fine.
But my losses kill me;)
@marke8021
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
@goutamnandi7830
Anyone in 2024 ?❤❤
I'm 13 years old.😂
@jordanfgfox7237
Dang I solute u it's stupid rare that yunge people listen to this
@bittensrensen7267
❤❤❤
@gracebarger2740
You have good taste
@mariecyprien-taylor114
Good song choice
@Koyot-the-Therian
Same here
@damayonnaise
My grandpa would always play this song on the piano for me. He passed a few days ago from pancreatic cancer. Every time I hear this song, I think of how much he loved me and I cant help but cry. May he rest in peace and keep smiling 💙💙💙🎹🎵🎶
@shivamdhamejani5944
i am so sorry for your grandpa, may he rest in peace
@Dzgem
I see this was a year ago but my condolences.💔
@teddanson4293
RIP to your grandfather. He sounds like a great man. I pray for peace and comfort to you and your family.