This song did not give a blatant sound of happiness or sadness. However, the happy and sad moments seemed to weave together (melodically speaking). But the story that Billie Holiday is telling is very mellow as she displays her insecurities of loneliness. She's telling everyone that there is nobody to give her the love and attention she desperately longed for.
Interestingly enough, she does not ask her lover to resolve her problems of dispair, but turns to 'the Lord.' She resorts to God to seek the love that can only be satisfied from above.
The words were written by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. Ellington (Duke) was the composer for the Cotton Club in the Harlem district of New York City.
Regardless of how the meanings can be, the song has a slow romantic quality to dance to.
This 'haunting' classic was a significant success. This song is still considered to be one of the greatest swing era collections to this day (1935 - 1945)
What a great selection; beautifully done.
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