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.
Oh Lady Be Good
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.
The lyrics of Teddy Wilson's "Oh Lady Be Good!" may sound like a simple plea for companionship, but upon closer inspection, reveal a deeper level of longing and melancholy. The singer is telling a tale of woe, explaining that although they may dress up each evening, there is nowhere to go and as a result, they are awfully blue. They are hoping to win over a handsome guy, as they can't continue living this way. They believe that they could blossom out with someone just like the person they are addressing in the song.
The mention of being "awfully misunderstood" adds more depth to the longing the singer is experiencing. They are asking for "some pity" and explaining that they are a "lonesome babe in the wood" which evokes feelings of loneliness and abandonment. The use of the phrase "Oh lady be good to me" is not only a request for affection but also a plea for a sense of belonging and stability.
Overall, the song is about one's search for companionship, not just for the sake of having someone by their side, but also for the sense of fulfillment and stability that sincere companionship brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to my tale of woe,
Please lend me an ear and listen to my sad story.
It's terribly sad but true,
My story is not only sad, but also factual.
All dressed up, no place to go
I put on my finest clothes, but have nowhere to go and nothing to do.
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
Every night, I feel extremely sad and lonely.
I must win some handsome guy
I need to find a good-looking man to improve my life.
Can't go on like this,
I can't continue living in this unhappy state.
I could blossom out I know,
I believe that I have the potential to flourish and succeed.
With somebody just like you. So
I think I could accomplish this if I find someone like you. Therefore...
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
I implore you, kind and beautiful lady, to be compassionate and helpful.
Oh, lady, be good to me
Please treat me with kindness and understanding.
I am so awfully misunderstood
People do not comprehend my situation, and it causes me a great deal of distress.
So lady, be good to me
This is why I am pleading with you to be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I kindly request that you take pity on me.
I'm all-alone in this big city
I feel incredibly isolated and solitary in this large metropolis.
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
I am a young and defenseless person who is lost and alone.
So lady be good to me.
Again, I implore you to show me compassion and empathy.
Oh lady be good to me.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to be kind to me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind