Her career peaked in the late 1960s with a string of pop music hits. Her best-known hit, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - which popularized and made her synonymous with Go-Go boots - was written by Lee Hazlewood. These Boots... has been covered by many artists such as Geri Halliwell, Megadeth, Jessica Simpson, Lil' Kim, Little Birdy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crispin Hellion Glover and KMFDM.
Nancy also co-starred in a number of films, including Roger Corman's The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern, and Speedway with Elvis Presley, made guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, and starred in a number of television specials, most notable among them the 1967 Emmy Award-winning special "Movin' with Nancy", in which she appeared with her father and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In the 1970s, she slowed down her musical activity and ceased acting in order to concentrate on being a wife and mother. She returned to the studio in 1981 to record a country album with Mel Tillis called, Mel & Nancy.
At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy in their May 1995 issue, released a new CD, One More Time, and made guest appearances on TV shows to promote the new material.
Most Recently, the song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (originally recorded by Cher) was used on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill.
On July 28, 2006, for the film Another Gay Movie (2006), she released the song "Another Gay Sunshine Day" from the Another Gay Movie Soundtrack.
So Long Babe
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodbye, so long.
I hope someday somebody
Listens to your song.
Those bright lights never ever
Spell your name it's true.
Maybe a change of scene
Will be the best for you.
So long babe, so long babe,
So long babe, so long babe
So long babe
I know you're leavin' babe,
Goodbye, so long.
Pick up the pieces
And go back where you belong.
You gave them all you had
And what did they give you?
Well they gave you nothin' babe
So give 'em nothin' too.
So long babe, so long babe, so long babe
So long babe, so long babe, so long babe,
So long babe.
I know you're leavin' babe,
Goodbye and so long.
You never made it babe,
I wonder what went wrong.
They never understood your songs,
Here's what you do
Just walk away and leave 'em,
And let 'em come to you.
So long babe, so long babe,
Yeah so long babe, so long babe
So long babe, so long babe,
So long babe
So long babe,
Ah so long babe
So long babe
Mmm So long babe
The song "So Long Babe" by Nancy Sinatra has a theme of farewell and leaving, and the lyrics show the singer bidding goodbye to her lover. From the very start of the song, it is clear that the recipient of the song is leaving, and the singer addresses them by saying goodbye and wishing them luck for the future. The lyrics "I know you're leavin' babe, Goodbye, so long" is repeated several times in the song, making the message quite clear. The second line of the verse shows the singer's hope that the person leaving finds success in their musical career, "I hope somebody listens to your song." The third verse shows the realization that the recipient has not gained the recognition they deserved, "Those bright lights never ever Spell your name it's true" and "maybe a change of scene Will be the best for you."
The second part of the song shows the singer advising the recipient to return to where they belong and not to let other individuals take advantage of them. The lyrics "Pick up the pieces And go back where you belong" and "They gave you nothing babe so give them nothing too" portrays the message of not allowing others to mistreat you. The final verse expresses the singer's concern over the recipient's failure. "You never made it babe, I wonder what went wrong" is a poignant line that summarizes the singer's lament for what could have been. The final line of the song, "Just walk away and leave 'em, And let 'em come to you," tells the recipient to hold onto their dignity and to let their talent speak for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're leavin' babe, Goodbye, so long.
I understand that you are leaving me and saying farewell.
I hope someday somebody Listens to your song.
I wish for your music to be heard and appreciated by someone someday.
Those bright lights never ever Spell your name it's true.
The fame and recognition you desired never came to fruition.
Maybe a change of scene Will be the best for you.
Perhaps it’s time to move on from this place and find new opportunities elsewhere.
Pick up the pieces And go back where you belong.
Pick yourself up and return to where you came from.
You gave them all you had And what did they give you? Well they gave you nothin' babe So give 'em nothin' too.
You put forth your greatest effort, but they didn't reciprocate. Don’t bother giving them anything anymore.
You never made it babe, I wonder what went wrong.
Your career in music didn't succeed, and I wonder where things went south.
They never understood your songs, Here's what you do Just walk away and leave 'em, And let 'em come to you.
No one grasped the meaning behind your music. My advice is to stop trying to please them; move forward and let them come to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind