Some of her best known hits are "It's So Peaceful in the Country", "Trust In Me", "Where Are You", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", "Small Fry", "Please Be Kind", "Darn That Dream", "Rockin' Chair", "Blame It On My Last Affair", and "Says My Heart".
Born Mildred Rinker in Tekoa, Washington, her mother, Josephine, was an enrolled member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and a devout Roman Catholic. Her father, Charles, played fiddle and called square dances. Her mother played piano every evening after supper and taught Mildred to play and sing. Her brothers were the vocalist and composer Al Rinker, and the lyricist Charles Rinker.
[edit]Career
At the age of seventeen, Bailey moved to Seattle and worked as a sheet music demonstrator at Woolworth's. She married and divorced Ted Bailey, keeping his last name because she thought it sounded more American than Rinker.[3] With the help of her second husband, Benny Stafford, she became an established blues and jazz singer on the West Coast. According to Gary Giddins' book Bing Crosby – A Pocketful of Dreams – The Early Years 1903-1940, in 1925 she secured work for her brother, Al Rinker, and his partner Bing Crosby. Giddins further states that Crosby first heard of Louis Armstrong and other Chicago black jazz records from Bailey's own record collection. Crosby helped Bailey in turn by introducing her to Paul Whiteman. She sang with Paul Whiteman's band from 1929 to 1933 (Whiteman had a popular radio program and when Bailey debuted with her version of "Moaning Low" in 1929, public reaction was immediate, although she did not start recording with Whiteman until late 1931).
Her first two records were as uncredited vocalist for an Eddie Lang Orchestra session in 1929 ("What Kind O' Man Is You?", an obscure Hoagy Carmichael song that was only issued in the UK) and a 1930 recording of "I Like To Do Things For You" for Frankie Trumbauer. She was Whiteman's popular female vocalist through 1932 (recording in a smooth crooning style), when she left the band due to salary disagreements. She then recorded a series of records for Brunswick in 1933 (accompanied by The Dorsey Brothers), as well an all-star session with Benny Goodman's studio band in 1934 that featured Coleman Hawkins.
In the mid-1930s, she recorded with her third husband Red Norvo. A dynamic couple, they earned the nicknames "Mr. and Mrs. Swing". During this period (1936–1939) Norvo recorded for Brunswick (with Bailey as primary vocalist) and Bailey recorded her own set of recordings for Vocalion, often with Norvo's band. Some of her recordings instead featured members of Count Basie's band. Despite her divorce from Norvo, she and Red would continue to record together until 1945. Suffering from diabetes and depression (during her adult life Bailey was overweight), she only made a few recordings following World War II.
Mildred Bailey died December 12, 1951, in Poughkeepsie, New York, of heart failure, aged 44, chiefly due to her diabetes. Her ashes were scattered. Red Norvo outlived Bailey by nearly half a century, dying in April 1999, a week after his 91st birthday.
I Think of You
Mildred Bailey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as I have you
Though there be rain
And darkness too
I'll not complain
I'll see it through
Poverty
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
The lyrics of Mildred Bailey's song "I'll Get By" are powerful both in their simplicity and their emotional resonance. The lyrics speak to a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, suggesting that as long as one has the support of someone they love, they can weather any storm. The lines "I'll not complain / I'll see it through" suggest a stoic approach to life's challenges, while the refrain "But what care I / Say, I'll get by" reinforces the idea that as long as one has love in their life, everything else can be overcome.
The song's lyrics also touch on the theme of poverty, suggesting that material wealth is not as important as the love and support of those closest to us. The line "Poverty / May come to me, it's true / But what care I" suggests that even in the face of financial hardship, the singer can remain content as long as they have the person they love by their side. Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Get By" speak to the enduring power of love and resilience in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll get by
I will manage to survive or cope, even in difficult times.
As long as I have you
Having your support and love is all I need to get through any challenge.
Though there be rain
Even in times of hardship and struggle, when everything seems to be falling apart.
And darkness too
When everything seems hopeless and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
I'll not complain
I won't grumble or whine about the tough times because I know I can make it through with your help.
I'll see it through
I'll persevere and work my way through whatever obstacles come my way.
Poverty
The state of being extremely poor and lacking the basic essentials of life.
May come to me, it's true
It's possible that I may face poverty or financial hardship at some point in my life.
But what care I
I don't really care or worry about it because I have you, and that's all that matters to me.
Say, I'll get by
In fact, I'm confident that with your love and support, I'll be able to manage and survive even in the toughest circumstances.
As long as I have you.
As long as I have your love and support, I can face any challenge that comes my way with confidence and strength.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kirk Barkley
Thank you SO much. This is my favorite Mildred Bailey recording!
boomerang905
The blend of Mr. Goodman and Ms. Bailey....so awesome, romantic - CLASSIC. I wasn't born during this era of music but hearing it as a child, I know this was what I prefer. Pure simplistic magic. Swing it, sing it! :)
Michael Friedman
Lovely song.
orchardist1965
A lovely arrangment of this beautiful song.The clarinet intro. yeeee . Incredible to know that this recording was made in 1939. It certainly stands the test of time. Thank you.
Abbe Buck Hann
such a great, great talent!
James Jordan
One of my favorite songs sung by a favorite singer and played by a favorite band. Being a train lover, it all fits to enchant. Sigh.
Barbara Beard
Love her. Benny's Goodman dreamy clarinet.
Norman Desmond
Has Mildred Bailey ever been recording on film? I have been searching for some video clips of her and I find nothing Hard to believe she was never filmed!
daniel stanwyck
me, too! nothing to be found
Mark Story Jenks
One of my Bailey favorites!