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".
I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hanging over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me
It is only a canvas sky
Sailing over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make believe
Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played
On a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me
Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played
On a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me
The song "I Ain't Got Nothin But the Blues" as performed by Rosemary Clooney is a love song that speaks about the power of belief and love. The first stanza describes a scene of a paper moon and cardboard sea, painting an image of a fake world. This, however, would not be a fantasy if the listener believes in the singer. She wants the person to trust in her and in what she has to offer.
In the second stanza, she sings of a canvas sky sailing over a muslin tree. Again, this is an image of a fabricated world, but she still insists that it can hold meaning and significance if they believe in each other. The chorus refers to how a life without the listener's love would be an empty, meaningless parade or melody on a penny arcade. It is a Barnum and Bailey world, precisely as fake as it can get, but it wouldn't be fake if both parties believe in each other.
The song evokes the emotions of hope, belief, and devotion. Despite the phony nature of the world, love and belief make it genuine, and the singer shows her love interests that they can build something real, meaningful and enduring. Also, the song is remarkable because of the subtle messages it portrays about happiness, optimism and loyalty towards a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
It is only a paper moon
The moon appearing as only a paper ornament represents the falseness and fragility of life's illusions.
Hanging over a cardboard sea
The cardboard sea is just a pretend landscape on which the paper moon hovers.
But it wouldn't be make believe
These illusions could become reality if people have faith in each other.
If you believe in me
So each person must trust in and support one another to make their dreams a reality.
It is only a canvas sky
The sky appears as a painted backdrop, further emphasizing the theme of illusions.
Sailing over a muslin tree
The muslin tree is just another part of the stage set, not a real tree at all.
Without your love
Life without the love of another is dull and unfulfilling.
It's a honky tonk parade
Life becomes a trivial spectacle, lacking joy and purpose.
It's a melody played
The music of life becomes a monotonous drone without love.
On a penny arcade
The imagery of a cheap and meaningless amusement conjures a sense of sadness and despair.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is full of illusions and shows, just like the famous circus that bears this song's title.
Just as phony as it can be
Everything in life, including its grandest shows, are ultimately unsatisfying and unfulfilling illusions.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E. Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind