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.
Jenny
Mildred Bailey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carolina, no, no, jenny
Carolina, no, no, jenny
Carolina, no, no
What's her name
Jenny she's blowing my mind
A love like yours is hard to find
A love like yours is hard to find
Carolina left me and gone
Went to number one and now she kicked up a storm
Who big her up now me and robert and shaun
Whole heap of entertainer come come step pan me corn
Now she was a top ten lady from the time she was born
But she went and played me now my love is gone
Oh I got a new lady and she's got it going on
And on and on and on and on and on and on
So weh me say
Shag you went number one took top gun
How they riding you every boys deciding to
Stop the track get trough you what the hell
Oh your gun solar mill competition got to chill ill
Carolina you all run down
Shaggy's not around do you know how you sound
Coming over here asking for him
Well I got drama for you poor he got another girlfriend
Carolina was so fine blew everybody's mind
More expensive than a bottle of chardonnay wine
Aged to perfection and so refine(me)
Every man want a taste 'cause your grapes are fine
Well me love your sexy rhythm and the way it rhyme
Booddy by by oh my my I love you and that's no lie
But you lived up to your title ho! Caroline, ha ha
Yeah, mad cash be spending
And thanks to you he got law suits pending
But that's alright cause he's lamping bossing spanking
Cashing checks stacking crazy banking
He's got jennifer on his mind
He can't see you so see you
I got no more time
Carolina left me and gone
Went to number one and now she kicked up a storm
Who big her up now me and Robert and Shaun
Whole heap of entertainer come and step pan me corn
Now she was a top ten lady from the time she was born
But she went and played me now my love is gone
Oh I got my new lady and she's got it going on
And on and on and on and on and on and on
So weh
The song "Jenny" by Mildred Bailey is a love ballad that is centered around a woman named Jenny. The opening lyrics, "Carolina, no, no, Jenny", suggest that the singer was in a relationship with a woman named Carolina, but Jenny has come into the picture and stolen his heart. He sings about how Jenny is "blowing his mind" and how her love is hard to find. The lyrics go on to describe how Carolina has left him for someone else, but he has found a new love in Jenny.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Carolina, no, no, Jenny" several times. This repetition could suggest that the singer is still struggling to let go of Carolina and fully commit to Jenny, or it could be a way to emphasize the contrast between the two women.
Throughout the song, there are references to music and the entertainment industry. The line "Whole heap of entertainer come come step pan me corn" suggests that the singer is a musician and that other entertainers are vying for his attention. This could be interpreted as a source of jealousy for Carolina and also be seen as a motivator for the singer to move on and find a new love in Jenny.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina, no, no, jenny
Mildred Bailey is addressing someone named Carolina and telling her to stop, while mentioning the name 'Jenny' multiple times.
What's her name
Mildred Bailey is wondering about the name of someone she is referring to, possibly 'Jenny'.
Jenny she's blowing my mind
Mildred Bailey is expressing that 'Jenny' has caught her attention and she is captivated by her.
A love like yours is hard to find
Mildred Bailey is indicating that 'Jenny' possesses a rare and valuable quality when it comes to love.
Carolina left me and gone
Mildred Bailey is talking about someone named Carolina who has left her.
Went to number one and now she kicked up a storm
Mildred Bailey is mentioning that Carolina has achieved success and is causing a disturbance of some sort.
Who big her up now me and robert and shaun
Mildred Bailey is asking who is praising Carolina now, while mentioning the names of two other people.
Whole heap of entertainer come come step pan me corn
Mildred Bailey is implying that many entertainers are trying to compete with her.
Now she was a top ten lady from the time she was born
Mildred Bailey is saying that Carolina was successful from a young age.
But she went and played me now my love is gone
Mildred Bailey is expressing that Carolina has mistreated her and caused her to lose love.
Oh I got a new lady and she's got it going on
Mildred Bailey is saying that she has found a new love interest and is impressed by her qualities.
Shag you went number one took top gun
Mildred Bailey is talking about someone named 'Shag' who achieved success.
How they riding you every boys deciding to
Mildred Bailey is asking about how men are now paying attention to 'Shag'.
Stop the track get trough you what the hell
Mildred Bailey is telling someone to stop interfering or interrupting.
Oh your gun solar mill competition got to chill ill
Mildred Bailey is implying that 'Shag' is doing well in competition and others need to calm down.
Carolina you all run down
Mildred Bailey is saying that Carolina's attractiveness or level of success has decreased.
Shaggy's not around do you know how you sound
Mildred Bailey is asking if Carolina realizes how she sounds talking about someone who is not even present.
Coming over here asking for him
Mildred Bailey is saying that Carolina is making inquiries about 'Shag'.
Well I got drama for you poor he got another girlfriend
Mildred Bailey is implying that Carolina should not worry about 'Shag' because he has moved on.
Carolina was so fine blew everybody's mind
Mildred Bailey is saying that Carolina was very attractive and impressed everyone.
More expensive than a bottle of chardonnay wine
Mildred Bailey is comparing Carolina's value to a pricey bottle of wine.
Aged to perfection and so refine(me)
Mildred Bailey is indicating that Carolina has aged gracefully and is sophisticated.
Every man want a taste 'cause your grapes are fine
Mildred Bailey is saying that many men were attracted to Carolina.
Well me love your sexy rhythm and the way it rhyme
Mildred Bailey is expressing her love for Carolina's enticing qualities.
Booddy by by oh my my I love you and that's no lie
Mildred Bailey is expressing her love for Carolina in a playful and affectionate way.
But you lived up to your title ho! Caroline, ha ha
Mildred Bailey is using the word 'ho' humorously to imply that Carolina has behaved in a promiscuous or flirtatious manner.
Yeah, mad cash be spending
Mildred Bailey is saying that someone is spending a lot of money.
And thanks to you he got law suits pending
Mildred Bailey is implying that Carolina is responsible for a legal issue or controversy.
But that's alright cause he's lamping bossing spanking
Mildred Bailey is saying that the person is still doing well despite the legal issue.
Cashing checks stacking crazy banking
Mildred Bailey is saying that the person is making a lot of money and accumulating wealth.
He's got jennifer on his mind
Mildred Bailey is saying that the person is thinking about someone named 'Jennifer'.
He can't see you so see you
Mildred Bailey is saying that the person is not interested in Carolina, and she should move on.
I got no more time
Mildred Bailey is saying that she has no more time to talk about Carolina and other issues at hand.
So weh me say
Mildred Bailey is indicating that she is done speaking and wants to move on to something else.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, KURT WEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
veeganboy
I didn't know she covered this. Great version!
No one trills like Miss Bailey
Martin Bryan
Would it be sacrilegious to say that I think I prefer Mildred Bailey's version to Gertrude Lawrence's?
recquilt
With The Delta Rhythm Boys.