Weston became an arranger for Rudy Vallee's Fleischman Hour on radio. In 1936 he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as chief arranger, holding the position until 1940. He then became Dinah Shore's arranger/conductor and also worked freelance for the Bob Crosby Orchestra. His association with the Crosby unit took him to Hollywood and into film work, starting with Holiday Inn in 1941. Subsequent films as musical director include Holiday Inn (1942), Belle of the Yukon (1944) and Road To Utopia (1945). Weston arranged Ella Fitzgerald's album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook (1957), devoted to the music of Irving Berlin.
In 1942, songwriter Johnny Mercer, Glenn Wallichs and Buddy DeSylva formed Capitol Records and engaged Weston as musical director for the label. Weston also began working on radio with Mercer and Capitol songstress Jo Stafford. Stafford signed with Columbia Records in 1950 and Weston also joined Columbia. In 1952, Weston and Stafford married and had two children, Tim (born 1954) and Amy (born 1956).
Weston had a long career as a musical director for television including The Danny Kaye Show. He teamed up with his wife to produce a series of comedy albums based on Jo's ability to sing off-key deliberately while Paul murdered the piano accompaniment. They assumed the personas of "Jonathan and Darlene Edwards" for these musical travesties.
The couple retired from performing in the 1970s. Weston died on September 20, 1996, in Santa Monica, California.
Bye Bye Blues
Paul Weston Lyrics
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Here I go, singin' low
Bye bye, my blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet and honey, so is she
Bye bye, my blackbird
All the hard-luck stories they all hand me
So make the bed, honey, light the light
I'm coming home late tonight
Blackbird, oh, bye bye
Pack up all my cares and woes
Here I go, singin' low
Bye bye bye bye, bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet and honey, so is she
Bye bye, my blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
All the hard luck stories they all hand me
So make the bed, honey, light the light
I'm coming home late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye
The song Bye Bye Blues by Paul Weston expresses the desire to leave behind one's troubles and find someone who truly loves and understands them. The singer packs up all their cares and woes and sings low, saying farewell to their hardships like a blackbird flying away. They long for a place where somebody waits for them, where sugar is sweet and honey is also sweet, where they can find love and understanding. The singer remarks on how no one around them seems to love or understand them, and they are tired of being handed hard-luck stories. They ask their loved one to make the bed and light the light because they will be coming home late tonight, indicating that they have finally found the comfort and love they were searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
Pack up all my care and woes
I'm putting all my worries and troubles behind me.
Here I go, singin' low
I'm leaving quietly, not making a fuss.
Bye bye, my blackbird
Goodbye to my troubles and sorrows.
Where somebody waits for me
I'm going to a place where I'm wanted and loved.
Sugar's sweet and honey, so is she
The person waiting for me is sweet and kind.
No one here can love or understand me
The people around me don't care or comprehend my problems.
All the hard-luck stories they all hand me
Everyone tells me sad tales of their problems, which only adds to mine.
So make the bed, honey, light the light
Prepare my home for my arrival, I'll be there soon.
I'm coming home late tonight
I'll be back when the night is dark.
Blackbird, oh, bye bye
Farewell to my old life and troubles.
Bye bye bye bye, bye bye blackbird
A final goodbye to my old life, as I leave it all behind me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind