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".
Hey There
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the solitary gloom I call to myself
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes
Love never made a fool of you
You used to be too wise
Hey there, you on that high-flyin' cloud
Though he won't throw a crumb to you
Better forget him
Him with his nose in the air
He has you dancin' on a string
Break it and he won't care
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a mother?
Or are you not seein' things too clear?
Are you too much in love to hear?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other?
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes (are you talking to me?)
Love never made a fool of you (not until now)
You used to be too wise (yes, I was once)
Will you take this advice I hand you like a mother?
Or are am I not seein' things too clear?
Are you just too far gone to hear?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other?
The above lyrics are from the song Hey There by Rosemary Clooney. In the song, the singer is observing her own behavior and her conversation with herself when she is alone in her room. She talks about seeing someone who has never been a fool in love because they were too wise for it, and now they are up in the clouds and waiting for someone who will never notice them. The singer then advises this person to forget about that person and break free from the control they have over them.
The lyrics are a mix of self-reflection and advice-giving. The singer is analyzing her own thoughts and behavior, but she is also stepping out of herself and addressing someone else who is going through a similar situation. The lyrics suggest that the advice is coming from a place of experience, and that the singer has gone through similar situations in love and learned from them.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately when I'm in my room all by myself
When I'm alone in my room nowadays
In the solitary gloom I call to myself
I talk to myself in the darkness
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes
Hello, you with hopeful dreams and aspirations
Love never made a fool of you
You've never been foolish when it comes to love
You used to be too wise
You were once smarter than this
Hey there, you on that high-flyin' cloud
Hello, you who's living in a fantasy world
Though he won't throw a crumb to you
Even though he doesn't give you the time of day
You think some day he'll come to you
You still believe he might come around
Better forget him
You should let him go
Him with his nose in the air
He's arrogant
He has you dancin' on a string
He's controlling you
Break it and he won't care
If you break free, he won't be affected
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a mother?
Can't you listen to my advice like a loving mother?
Or are you not seein' things too clear?
Are you not seeing the situation clearly?
Are you too much in love to hear?
Are you too blinded by love to listen?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other?
Are you completely ignoring what I'm saying?
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes (are you talking to me?)
Hello, are you the one with hopeful dreams?
Love never made a fool of you (not until now)
You were never foolish when it came to love, but now you are
You used to be too wise (yes, I was once)
You were once smarter and more discerning in matters of the heart
Will you take this advice I hand you like a mother?
Will you consider my advice as if it were from a caring mother?
Or are am I not seein' things too clear?
Am I not seeing the situation clearly?
Are you just too far gone to hear?
Are you too far-gone to listen?
Is it all goin' in one ear and out the other?
Are you ignoring everything I'm telling you?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry J. Ross, Richard Adler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Arce
Hey there,
You with the stars in your eyes
Love never made a fool of you,
You used to be too wise
Hey there,
You on that high-flying' cloud
Though he won't throw a crumb to you,
You think some day he'll come to you
You have better forget him,
Him with his nose in the air
He has you dancing' on a string,
Break it and he won't care
Won't you take this advice
I hand you like a mother
Or are you not seeing' things too clear
Are you too much in love to hear
Is it all going' in one ear
And out the other
You have better forget him,
Him with his nose in the air
He has you dancing' on a string,
Break it and he won't care
Won't you take this advice
I hand you like a mother
Or are you not seeing' things too clear
Are you too much in love to hear
Is it all going' in one ear
And out the other
Charlotte Swincicki
This song kept going thru my head. It was such a great song when I was a child. My Mom would watch the hit parade and there it would be.
Jody Wilke
A lovely song, from a lovely and talented singer. I remember when Rosemary Clooney was on "E.R.", and she was an Alzheimer's patient, wandering around the halls of the hospital--her nephew George was one of the stars of the show.😔
Bob Sebring
Back in the 70s my parents had a 8 track player installed in our travel trailer so we could listen to music while vacationing. RCA had a collection of 40s & 50s music on 8 track tape which my folks used to listen too on our trips. This song was one of them. Gawd, what special memories this brings back to me, and how much I love and miss my mom and dad. This fond memory is priceless. Thank you so much!
persevere
Thanks
Andrew grutzner
Great memory man
frankie hunter
This wonderful interpretation of the song reached #1 in 1954. In the same year "Hey There" charted in versions by Sammy Davis,Jr 16/54 and Johnny Ray 27/54. You can hear all versions here on youtube.
Rollin Zap
I was born in 1954 ... it past already 65 years and still listening those beautiful songs with tears in my eyes ... love you Rosemary 05 June 2019
Jorge Mario Rodas
Beautiful song, and one which makes one think. The singer's voice is simply outstanding. The lyrics are nice and well pronounced, so it is easy to understand and the melody is sweet. 😄
Lia Vasquez
I was crying in the car and this song came up. Just what I need it when you need a mother advice that lift you up.
Jorge Mario Rodas
Escuché esta canción en una versión en español por Enrique Guzmán cuando era adolescente, y pensé que ya la había escuchado antes en inglés, pero no recordaba cuando. Y esta versión en inglés es superior. Da gusto oírla. 😀