Clooney's first recordings, in May 1946, were for Columbia Records. She sang with Tony Pastor's big band. Clooney continued working with the Pastor band until 1949, making her last recording with the band in May of that year and her first as a solo artist a month later, still for Columbia.
She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit Come On-a My House written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian (better known as David Seville, the father figure of Alvin and the Chipmunks), which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" (a cover version of the Italian song Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina by Alberto Rabagliati), "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House", although she had success as a jazz vocalist. Clooney's career languished in the 1960s, partly due to problems related to depression and drug addiction, but revived in 1977, when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to appear with him at a show marking his 50th anniversary in show business. She continued recording until her death in 2002. She was the aunt of Academy Award winning actor George Clooney; mother-in-law of singer Debby Boone; and sister to former television personality Nick Clooney. She was the ex-wife of Jose Ferrer; mother of actor Miguel Ferrer
Clooney was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of 2001. Around this time, she gave her last concert, in Hawaii, backed by the Honolulu Symphony Pops; her last song was "God Bless America".
All Alone
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
She is sorry to be delayed,
but last evening down in Lover's Lane she strayed, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone, madam,
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray,
And from under her velvet gown,
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail, madam,
They strung her upon the old willow across the way,
And the moment before she died,
She lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam......
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today
This song, "Miss Otis Regrets," tells the story of an unfortunate woman named Miss Otis who was unable to keep her love for her partner, leading her to make a fatal decision. The opening verses explain that she cannot make the scheduled lunch appointment due to having strayed too far the night before with her lover. When she realized that her lover did not reciprocate her feelings, she decided to take drastic measures and shot him. She was subsequently arrested and executed by hanging.
There are a few different ways to interpret the meaning behind the lyrics of this song. Some may see it as a tale of the dangers of unrequited love and how it can drive a person to madness. Others may view it as a commentary on the consequences of infidelity and how it can lead to tragic consequences. Regardless, the lyrics themselves are incredibly powerful and evoke deep emotions in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today, madam,
Miss Otis is unable to join for lunch today and expresses her regret to the person she is addressing.
She is sorry to be delayed, but last evening down in Lover's Lane she strayed, madam,
Miss Otis apologizes for not being able to make it for lunch as she got delayed due to her romantic rendezvous with someone in Lover's Lane.
When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone, madam,
Miss Otis woke up to the realization that her dream of love was shattered and lost.
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray, and from under her velvet gown, she drew a gun and shot her love down, madam,
Miss Otis sought the man who betrayed her love and took revenge by shooting him with a gun she had in secret.
When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail, madam, they strung her upon the old willow across the way,
The authorities caught Miss Otis and punished her by publicly hanging her from an old tree.
And the moment before she died, she lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam...... Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
Just before her death, Miss Otis expressed her regret for not being able to have lunch and implied that it was not her wish to end her life in such a tragic way.
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today.
The song ends with Miss Otis repeating her regret for not being able to join for lunch one last time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gina Marie
Love this version by Rosemary Clooney!