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".
Blues in the Night
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was in pig tails
My mama done told me
Hon', a man's gonna sweet talk
And give you the big eye
But when the sweet talkin's done
A man is a two face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you singin'
Now the rain is fallin'
Hear the train a callin', whoo-ee
(My mama done told me)
Hear that lonesome whistle
Blowin' cross the trestle, whoo-ee
(My mama done told me)
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, clickety clacks
Echoin' back the blues in the night
The evening breeze will start the trees to cryin'
And the moonlight hides his light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockin' bird will
Sing the saddest kinda song
He knows things are wrong and he's right
Whoo-ee, whoo-ee
From Natchez to Mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
I heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man is a two face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Whoo-ee, whoo-ee
My mama was right, there's blues in the night
The song Blues in the Night is an old jazz tune that is performed by Rosemary Clooney. The verses of the song caution against possible heartbreak, the kind that may occur as a result of falling for a charming man. The vocalist mentions her mother's warning that men will deceive with smooth words and grand gestures, making promises that they may not keep in the end. A man, according to the singer, is a two-faced and worrisome creature, capable of leaving one with nothing but the blues in the night. The chorus further underscores that sentiment, affirming that the pained sensation of being let down by someone can feel all-encompassing and stretch from Natchez to Mobile, Memphis to St. Joe, and wherever the four winds blow.
The song's themes encompass the timeless idea of heartbreak and loneliness that comes with an unfulfilling relationship. The vocals begin with describing how the singer's mother warned her of charming men who will leave a woman broken-hearted in the end, reflecting the common notion that older women were the bearers of wisdom for younger folk. The song's message is clear - be careful who you fall in love with. The unfulfilling relationship can leave you with nothing but the blues in the night. The lyrical structure of the song has inspired several covers, including various jazz vocalists, instrumental versions, and even a version by composer Harold Arlen. Blues in the Night has become a timeless piece of classic American jazz.
Line by Line Meaning
My mama done told me
My mom warned me
When I was in pig tails
When I was a little girl
Hon', a man's gonna sweet talk
Sweet talker men
And give you the big eye
They might woo you with their looks and charm
But when the sweet talkin's done
Once they are finished talking sweetly
A man is a two face, a worrisome thing
Men often hide their true selves
Who'll leave you singin'
Leaving you feeling miserable
The blues in the night
Depressed and alone at night
Now the rain is fallin'
Now it's raining
Hear the train a callin', whoo-ee
Train whistle blowing
Hear that lonesome whistle
The noise of the train is sad
Blowin' cross the trestle, whoo-ee
The train sound echoes everywhere
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, clickety clacks
The train makes a unique sound
Echoin' back the blues in the night
The sound reflects the feelings of loneliness
The evening breeze will start the trees to cryin'
Wind makes the trees look like they're crying
And the moonlight hides his light
Moon is hidden, so it's dark
When you get the blues in the night
When you're depressed at night
Take my word, the mockin' bird will
Trust that the mockingbird will
Sing the saddest kinda song
Sing the most depressive song
He knows things are wrong and he's right
The bird feels the sadness is justified and knows what's wrong
From Natchez to Mobile
From one city to another
From Memphis to St. Joe
These are more towns that the singer has traveled to
Wherever the four winds blow
The singer has been all over
I been in some big towns
I've visited many cities
I heard me some big talk
People speak big words
But there is one thing I know
The singer has learned something
Whoo-ee, whoo-ee
Expressive outcry
My mama was right, there's blues in the night
My mom was right, feeling alone and sad at night
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Free
My mama done tol' me
When I was in pigtails
My mama done tol' me
A man's gonna sweet-talk and give you the big eyes
But when the sweet-talking's done
A man is a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train a-callin, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
Hear that lonesome whistle blowin' 'cross the trestle, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
A-whooee-ah-whooee ol' clickety-clack's
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
And heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
And heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night
Yes, the lonely, lonely blues in the night
egmjag
Such a classy tune. The way she sings and the lyrics are so descriptive. I feel like I'm watching a TCM film noir movie especially when she describes the train's sounds. What happened? I thought we were evolving. Like a solid, classic American car with beautiful lines and well crafted, the music from this era seems to overshadow any music produced today.
John Jarou
agreed!
Janet Anderson
she's so versatile, this is so torchy and the 3 before this included a child's tune, a jazz combo and a soft ballad. i've never had one instance in one song where i couldn't understand the words. love her !
James Carson
Wow! That ending was unexpected! This is definitely the best version of this song. Originally by William Gillespie in 1941 originally titled as Hot Nocturne.
Katherine Antoinette
By far my favorite rendition of this song. Thanks for posting :)
nauort23
I like this, too. A lot of people either comically ham this one up or do it too sultry and serious. She walks that fine line.
Scott Free
My mama done tol' me
When I was in pigtails
My mama done tol' me
A man's gonna sweet-talk and give you the big eyes
But when the sweet-talking's done
A man is a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train a-callin, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
Hear that lonesome whistle blowin' 'cross the trestle, "whoo-ee!"
My mama done tol' me
A-whooee-ah-whooee ol' clickety-clack's
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
And heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong, and he's right
From Natchez to mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns
And heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night
Yes, the lonely, lonely blues in the night
Friends, Romans, counrry men, lend me your ears.
when I hear this, all I think of is the buzzard in the looney tunes cartoons. haha
Gillian Roberts
Such a brilliant song
gina houck
I only knew Dinah Shore's.But Rosemary Clooney had the voice to sing it, up front right to the rafters.WOW.Thank-You for posting it,I grew up in the 80s listening to this from my grandmom who raised me,I love Grievin and Hey Baby