Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07… Read Full Bio ↴Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07-31 in New Britain, Connecticut) was a jazz pianist from the United States . His sophisticated and elegant style graced the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Speed Webb and Louis Armstrong bands, he joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935 he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the Trio, Wilson became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.

In the 1930s and 1940s he recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's most successful records. During these years he also recorded many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.

Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups up until the final years of his life.

Dinah
Teddy Wilson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Carolina
Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.

News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',

Here's the song my heart keeps singin':

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,

I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Overall Meaning

The song "Dinah" by Teddy Wilson is a classic song about love and marriage. The song is about Carolina, who gave the singer Dinah, and how proud he is to have her by his side. The news of their wedding is spreading quickly, and the church bells are ringing in celebration. The singer has nothing but love and admiration for Dinah, and he can't help but sing about her beauty and charm. He describes her as having "Dixie eyes blazin'" and how he loves to sit and gaze into her eyes.

Although the singer is deeply in love with Dinah, he worries that she might change her mind about him. He is so afraid of losing her that he shakes with fright every night. However, he is ready to do anything to be with her, even if it means hopping on an ocean liner all the way to China. This shows how strong his love is for her, and how he is willing to go to the ends of the earth to be with her.

In summary, "Dinah" is a song about the power of love and how it can make a person feel proud, scared, and willing to do anything to keep their loved one by their side.

Line by Line Meaning

Carolina
The state where the singer met Dinah

Gave me Dinah;
He found Dinah in Carolina

I'm the proudest one
He feels lucky to have Dinah

Beneath the Dixie sun.
Referencing to the southern sun over them

News is spreadin'
People are talking about his upcoming wedding

'Bout our weddin';
His and Dinah's wedding

I hear church bells ringin',
Wedding bells are ringing

Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
He can't help himself but think about Dinah all the time

Dinah,
Refers to his love interest

Is there anyone finer
He thinks Dinah is the best

In the state of Carolina?
Asking if there's anyone better than Dinah in Carolina