Am I Blue
Ethel Waters
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I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary shore I'm just a woman who's only human One you should feel sorry for It was a morning, long before dawn Without a warning I found he was gone How could he do it, why should he do it He never done it before Am I blue, am I blue Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you How can you ask me am I blue Why, wouldn't you be too If each plan with your man Done fell through There was a time When I was his only one But now I'm the sad and lonely one...lonely Was I gay, until today Now he's gone, and we're through Am I blue
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Origin"Am I Blue" is an American song written by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke in 1929. It became most associated with Ethel Waters who performed it in the 1929 all-black film "On with the Show."
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Performance HistoryWhile it was performed by a range of artists, Waters' version of "Am I Blue" is widely considered the definitive performance.
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Movie InclusionThe song was included in the first ever color (two-strip Technicolor) talking picture, the Warner Brothers film "On with the Show."
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Song ThemeThe song expresses the profound sadness and despair of a woman whose man has gone off and left her.
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Ethel Waters' ContributionEthel Waters' performance was so effective that "Am I Blue" became a jazz standard, constantly being recreated by new generations of musicians.
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Record SalesAfter Waters' soul-stirring performance in “On with The Show,” the song quickly gained popularity and sold over 1 million copies in sheet music.
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Song Influence"Am I Blue" has greatly influenced many artists and has been recorded by heavyweights, including Billie Holiday, Cher, and Bette Midler.
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Long-lasting ImpactDespite being released over 90 years ago, Ethel Waters' "Am I Blue" remains timeless, as it continues to influence and inspire artists to this day.
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Waters' Inspirational BiographyEthel Waters, despite being born into a very poor family, made a remarkable career for herself as a jazz, swing, and pop song vocalist as well as a notable actress. Her performance of "Am I Blue" played a significant role in her enduring legacy.
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Historical ContextThe song released during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of flourishing creativity within the black community, this acted as a platform for Ethel Waters to showcase her talent with "Am I Blue."
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AchievementsThe song "Am I Blue" helped establish Waters as one of the first black women to integrate Broadway theatre, and it is praised as a consistent high point of her performing career.
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Citation
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"Am I Blue Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/23463234/Ethel+Waters/Am+I+Blue>.
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