Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
Kathleen
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the river where no one goes
We could be married there in the countryard
By this old Spanish priest that no one knows
And he'll say
"Nel blu dipinto
Dipinto di blu
Di stare lassu"
That means you love him
And he loves you
"Piu bel ci sono
Ci sei tu"
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
The best one in the world
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey,
Come what may
Her, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna take you away, away
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
I've searched through all the world
I dream of you, Kathleen
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
The opening lines of Randy Newman’s song “Kathleen” set the scene of a hidden, little-known place - a courtyard nobody visits by a river in Chicago. In this secluded place, the singer fantasizes about marrying Kathleen. The choice of the location might symbolize the romanticism of adventure and spontaneity. The reference to the presence of an old Spanish priest no one knows specifically refers to the spontaneity of their planned ceremony. This might also suggest that the priest has been there for a long time, hidden from the rest of the world. In the subsequent lines, the singer quotes an Italian song, "Nel blu dipinto di blu," which translates to "In the blue, painted blue, happy to be up there." The song's lyrics indicate that the couple would be happy in their new life together, and there would be no sadness or distress.
As the song continues, the focus of the lyrics changes to Kathleen herself, stating that she is the best Irish girl in the world. This declaration could suggest that the singer is not Irish, and he is emphasizing Kathleen's unique character surpasses any generalization about Irish women. The lines, "I've always been crazy about Irish girls," further emphasize Kathleen's one-of-a-kind character, which has attracted the singer to Irish girls in the past.
In essence, "Kathleen" is a romantic tribute to a beloved woman. The lyrics depict the sincerity of the singer's emotions and emphasize the importance of this woman in his life. With Randy Newman's gentle vocals, the lyrics come to life, and the listener can feel the depth of the emotions portrayed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a countryard here in Chicago
In Chicago there's a courtyard, unvisited by most
Down by the river where no one goes
It's located near the river but seldomly noticed
We could be married there in the countryard
We could wed there in peace, in that hidden space
By this old Spanish priest that no one knows
No one in the city really knows this Spanish priest
And he'll say
During the ceremony, he'll recite
Nel blu dipinto
These Italian words,
Dipinto di blu
When translated to English,
Felice de stare
Mean that happiness comes from being
Di stare lassu
Up high, high above
That means you love him
This means that you love him
And he loves you
And he loves you too
Piu bel ci sono
Another phrase in Italian
Ci sei tu
That says you are the most beautiful thing in the world
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
The Irish name Kathleen, repeated three times
The best one in the world
Is the best name of all
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
Again that name repeated thrice
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
I've always been crazy about the qualities of Irish women
Hey, hey, hey, hey
A series of exclamations
Hey, hey,
And again
Come what may
An expression of acceptance, regardless of what happens
Her, hey, hey, hey
More exclamations
I'm gonna take you away, away
I'm going to elope with you, and take you away from here
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
Once again, the name Kathleen
I've searched through all the world
I have traveled the world, searching for a woman like you
I dream of you, Kathleen
I often dream of you, Kathleen
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
Again, expressing his admiration for Irish women
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind