Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong all cited Lee as one of their favorite singers.
Peggy Lee had Norwegian and Swedish ancestry. She was the seventh of eight children born to Marvin Egstrom, a station agent for the Midland Continental Railroad. Her mother died when she was four years old. Music provided her an escape from the abusive rampages of her cruel stepmother, Min, who tormented and beat young Norma. She first sang professionally with KOVC radio in Valley City, North Dakota. She soon landed her own series on a radio show sponsored by a local restaurant that paid her "salary" in food. Both during and after her high school years, she took whatever jobs she could find, waitressing and singing for paltry sums on other local stations. Radio personality Ken Kennedy (actual name: Ken Sydness), of WDAY in Fargo (the most widely listened to station in North Dakota) changed her name from Norma to Peggy Lee. Tired of the abuse from her stepmother, she left home and traveled to Los Angeles at the age of 17.
She returned to North Dakota for a tonsillectomy and eventually made her way to Chicago for a gig at The Buttery Room, a nightclub in the Ambassador Hotel West in Chicago, where she drew the attention of Benny Goodman, the jazz clarinetist and band leader. According to Lee, "Benny's then-fiancée, Lady Alice Duckworth, came into the Buttery, and she was very impressed. So the next evening she brought Benny in, because they were looking for replacement for Helen Forrest. "And although I didn't know, I was it. He was looking at me strangely, I thought, but it was just his preoccupied way of looking. I thought that he didn't like me at first, but it just was that he was preoccupied with what he was hearing." She joined his band in 1941 and stayed for two years.
In early 1942, Lee had her first # 1 hit, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place", followed by 1943's "Why Don't You Do Right?" (originally sung by Lil Green), which sold over a million copies and made her famous. She sang with Goodman in two 1943 films, Stage Door Canteen and The Powers Girl.
In March 1943, Lee married Dave Barbour, the guitarist in Goodman's band. Peggy said, "David joined Benny's band and there was a ruling that no one should fraternize with the girl singer. But I fell in love with David the first time I heard him play, and so I married him. Benny then fired David, so I quit, too. Benny and I made up, although David didn't play with him anymore. Benny stuck to his rule. I think that's not too bad a rule, but you can't help falling in love with somebody."
When Lee and Barbour left the band, the idea was that he would work in the studios and she would keep house and raise their daughter, Nicki. But she drifted back towards songwriting and occasional recording sessions for the fledgling Capitol Records in 1947, for whom she produced a long string of hits, many of them with lyrics and music by Lee and Barbour, including "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "It's a Good Day" (1948). With the release of the smash-hit #1-selling record of 1942, "Mañana", her "retirement" was over.
In 1948, she joined Perry Como and Jo Stafford as one of the rotating hosts of the NBC Radio musical program Chesterfield Supper Club. She was also a regular on NBC's Jimmy Durante Show during the 1938-48 season.
She left Capitol for a few years in the early 1940s, but returned in 1943. She is most famous for her cover version of the Little Willie John hit "Fever", to which she added her own, uncopyrighted lyrics ("Romeo loved Juliet," "Captain Smith and Pocahontas") and her rendition of Leiber and Stoller's "Is That All There Is?" Her relationship with the Capitol label spanned almost three decades, aside from her brief but artistically rich detour (1952-1956) at Decca Records, where she recorded one of her most acclaimed albums Black Coffee (1956). While recording for Decca, Lee had hit singles with the songs "Lover" and "Mr. Wonderful."
She was also known as a songwriter with such hits as the songs from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp, for which she also supplied the singing and speaking voices of four characters. Her many songwriting collaborators, in addition to Barbour, included Laurindo Almeida, Harold Arlen, Sonny Burke, Cy Coleman, Gene DiNovi, Duke Ellington, Dave Grusin, Dick Hazard, Quincy Jones, Francis Lai, Jack Marshall, Johnny Mandel, Marian McPartland, Willard Robison, Lalo Schifrin, Hubie Wheeler, guitarist Johnny Pisano and Victor Young.
Lee also acted in several films. In 1952, she played opposite Danny Thomas in a remake of the early Al Jolson film, The Jazz Singer. In 1955, she played a despondent, alcoholic blues singer in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955), for which she was nominated for an Oscar.
Peggy won a Grammy in 1969 as best contemporary female vocalist (for her recording of Is That All There Is?) and was awarded a Doctor of Music Honoris Causa degree from North Dakota State University, in 1975.
In the early 1990s, she retained famed entertainment attorney Neil Papiano, who, on her behalf, successfully sued Disney for royalties on Lady and the Tramp. Lee's lawsuit claimed that she was due royalties for video tapes, a technology that did not exist when she agreed to write and perform for Disney.
Never afraid to fight for what she believed in, Lee was passionate that musicians be equitably compensated for their work. Although she realized litigation had taken a toll on her health, Lee often quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson ("God's will will not be made manifest by cowards.")
She also successfully sued MCA/Decca with the assistance of noted entertainment attorney, Cy Godfrey.
She continued to perform into the 1990s, sometimes in a wheelchair, and still mesmerized audiences and critics alike.[citation needed]
In 1995 she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
After years of poor health, Lee died of complications from diabetes and heart attack at the age of 81. She is survived by Nicki Lee Foster, her daughter with Barbour. She is buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California. On her marker in a garden setting is inscribed, "Music is my life's breath."
Chi-Baba Chi-Baba
Peggy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Many a year ago in old Sorrento
A certain ditty was quite a thing
Whenever a mother rocked her baby in Sorrento
This little ditty she used to sing
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
My bambino go to sleep!
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
My bambino go to sleep!
All the stars are in the skies ready to say goodnight
Can't you see your doll is sleepy too?
Close your drowsy little eyes, mama will hold you tight
While she sings a lullaby to you
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
My bambino go to sleep!
All the stars are in the skies ready to say goodnight
Can't you see your doll is sleepy too?
Close your drowsy little eyes, mama will hold you tight
While she sings a lullaby to you
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
My bambino go to sleep!
Chi-baba, chi-baba (bambino, bambino), chi-wawa
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba chi-baba
The song "I Go to Sleep," as sung by Peggy Lee, is a cover of the original song by Ray Davies of The Kinks. The lyrics of the song are a lullaby that tells the story of a mother rocking her baby to sleep in the town of Sorrento. The chorus of the song is "Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa, an' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah," which is the little ditty that the mother sings to her baby as she rocks him to sleep. The lyrics tell of the mother's love for her baby and how she will hold him tight while singing a lullaby to him, as she sees that he is sleepy and the stars are out in the sky.
The song has a very calming and soothing melody that complements the lyrics perfectly. The song is a lullaby, not only in its lyrics but also in its musical composition. The song's melody is light and gentle, with the accompaniment of a music box-like sound that adds to its charming quality. The song has an overall sense of nostalgia and sweetness that is perfect for a lullaby.
"I Go to Sleep" was first recorded by The Kinks in 1965, and it was later covered by various artists, including Peggy Lee. The song's popularity grew when it was included in the soundtrack for the 1996 movie "The Craft." The song has since been covered by many artists, including Sia and The Pretenders. The song's lyrics and melody make it a perfect choice for a lullaby, and it remains a popular song for parents to sing to their babies.
Line by Line Meaning
Chi-baba, chi-baba
A traditional Italian lullaby containing nonsensical, soothing sounds
Many a year ago in old Sorrento
Many years ago, in the Italian city of Sorrento
A certain ditty was quite a thing
A popular song with local mothers
Whenever a mother rocked her baby in Sorrento
When a mother would rock her baby to sleep in Sorrento
This little ditty she used to sing
She would sing this simple, soothing song
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa
The song lyrics containing comforting, repetitive sounds
An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah
More nonsensical sounds meant to soothe the child
My bambino go to sleep!
The mother's hope that her child falls asleep quickly
All the stars are in the skies ready to say goodnight
The mother pointing out the calm and quiet nighttime atmosphere
Can't you see your doll is sleepy too?
The mother suggesting that the child's doll is tired as well
Close your drowsy little eyes, mama will hold you tight
The mother urging the child to sleep while also offering comfort and support
While she sings a lullaby to you
The mother continuing to provide soothing sounds to aid in sleep
Chi-baba, chi-baba (bambino, bambino), chi-wawa
Repeating the comforting sounds and referencing the child
Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba chi-baba
The final repetition of soothing sounds to assist in the child's peaceful sleep
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: AL HOFFMAN, JERRY LIVINGSTON, MACK DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dilshani perera
Many a year ago in old Sorrento
A certain ditty was quite the thing
Whenever a mother rocked her baby in Sorrento
This little ditty she used to sing
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
All the stars are in the skies ready to say "good night"
Can't you see your doll is sleepy too
Close your drowsy little eyes mama will hold you tight
While she sings a lullaby to you
Oh Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
(Chi-baba Chi-baba Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua enjilava)
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba (la goomba)
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
(Chi Chi Chi-baba)
Chi Chi Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba (la goomba)
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
All the stars are in the skies
Ready to say "good night good night"
(Can't you see your doll is sleepy too )
(Close your drowsy little eyes mama will hold you tight)
(While she sings a lullaby to you ever so sweetly)
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
Enjilava kooka la goomba (la goomba chi-baba)
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
Chi-baba Chi-baba Chihuahua
My bambino go to sleep
The Circuses
This makes me cry; my daddy sang this to me as a child and I never knew if it was a real song or not because he passed away when I was two. I have been singing it to my kids for years and decided to look it up... This is awesome!
kellybell5
The Killen Clan I'm the same way. I thought my daddy made this up. So glad I found it!
Jamie Freed
My father never ever sings. About a week ago I just heard him sing for the very first time, and I'm twelve years old! I love him very much, but you are very lucky that your father sang to you!
Brigitte Hubbell
I would always ask for my momma to sing this lullaby to me every night. It was my absolute favorite. Now with my first child of my own, I’ve been singing it to him since he was born, 3 weeks ago. 💙
Cyberdeb72
my sweet mother sang this to me all my life. as a child, any time I felt bad or just needed her near, I would climb up in her lap and say, sing Chibaba, and she always did. I took a chance and did a search, and found this and Perry Como's versions. I lost my mother two weeks ago and tho I listen with many tears, I feel her near, wanting to soothe my pain by singing Chibaba.
Norma Bellamy
Cyberdeb72 My Tears for you, dear.
James Prince
Time is an illusion. God bless you.
Canberra War Museum
Bless all the good mothers
Canberra War Museum
🤱
it’s ella
Bless your sweet mother she is still with you in your heart and she is singing with you