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".
Sing You Sinners
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to what I say
Moanin' and groanin'
Won't drive those blues away
Lift up your voices in song
You know you've all done wrong
You sinners, drop everything
Up to Heaven
And sing, you sinners
Just wave your arms all about
And let the Lord hear you shout
Pour the music right out
And sing, you sinners
Whenever there's music
The Devil kicks
He don't allow music
By the river Styx
You're wicked and you're depraved
And you've all misbehaved
If you wanna be saved
Well, sing, you sinners
Well, up until now
I've been asking you singers to sing
But if you can't sing, dance
C'mon band, swing
Swing, swing, swing
Swing, you sinners
Swing, swing, swing
Swing, you sinners
Whenever there's music
The Devil kicks
He don't allow music
By the river Styx
You're wicked and you're depraved
And you've all misbehaved
If you wanna be saved
If you wanna be saved
Well, sing, you sinners
The song "Sing You Sinners" by Rosemary Clooney is an upbeat and uplifting jam with a message reminding the listeners that everyone has done wrong and made mistakes, but singing together can lift us up and bring us hope. The song stresses the importance of music as a means of lifting oneself out of the blues, and encourages the listeners to join in and lift their voices together. The lyrics emphasize that the Devil doesn't want people to sing, and if there's anything that can drive away the blues, it's music.
The first verse of the song addresses the listeners as brothers and sisters, urging them to listen to what the singer is saying. The singer tells them that moaning and groaning won't help drive away their blues; they need to lift up their voices in song. The second verse emphasizes that the Devil doesn't want anyone to sing or play music, so by singing together, they can overcome his malevolent influence. The singer assures the sinners that they can be saved if they sing together.
The song's overall message is one of hope and encouragement, urging listeners to come together in song and community to overcome their troubles. It's about finding joy and salvation through music and using that joy to drive away the blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Brothers, sisters
Addressing the listeners as siblings
Listen to what I say
Advice to pay attention
Moanin' and groanin', won't drive those blues away
Expressing the futility of complaining
Lift up your voices in song
Asking to sing in unison
You know you've all done wrong
Acknowledgement of past mistakes
You sinners, drop everything
Addressing the sinful audience to stop whatever they're doing
And let that harmony ring
Asking to sing in tune and harmony
Up to Heaven
Referring to the act of singing together as a divine offering
And sing, you sinners
Encouraging the listeners to sing despite their sins
Just wave your arms all about
Instruction to make gestures while singing
And let the Lord hear you shout
Asking to sing loudly to reach the divine
Pour the music right out
Encouraging to sing from the heart
And sing, you sinners
Repeating the previous encouragement
Whenever there's music
Acknowledging the power of music
The Devil kicks, he don't allow music
Referring to the belief that music is taboo and satanic
By the river Styx
Referring to Hades (the underworld) and its river
You're wicked and you're depraved
Acknowledging the audience's sinful nature
And you've all misbehaved
Acknowledging the audience's past mistakes
If you wanna be saved
Implying that singing may lead to redemption
Well, sing, you sinners
Encouraging singing as a means of salvation
Up until now, I've been asking you singers to sing
Admitting the focus on singers and offering an alternative
But if you can't sing, dance
Suggesting dancing as an alternative to singing
C'mon band, swing
Instructing the band to play swing music
Swing, swing, swing
Repeating the previous instruction
Swing, you sinners
Addressing the audience to dance swing music
Swing, swing, swing
Repeating the previous instruction
Swing, you sinners
Repeating the previous encouragement
If you wanna be saved, if you wanna be saved
Repeating the previous implication
Well, sing, you sinners
Repeating the previous encouragement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sam Coslow, W. Franke Harling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind