Mama Jazz

“Some kids in Italy call me ‘Mama Jazz’; I thought that was so cute. As long as they don’t call me ‘Grandma Jazz.'”

Ella Fitzgerald, the most popular female jazz singer for more than half a century, died on 15 June 1996, twenty-five years ago.
She was often referred to as Lady Ella, the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz.


In this video she is singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me“, a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, and lyrics by Gus Kahnwhich . This song became a popular standard in depression-era America and over the years it was recorded by a variety of singers, including The Mamas & The Papas in 1968 with Cass Elliot on lead vocals (see here)
Ella Fitzgerald recorded it in the fifties and also in one of her duets with Louis Armstrong (see here)


Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper I love you
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me

Say night-ie night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me
While I’m alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I’m longing to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I’m longing to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

The song starts with the romantic image of a walk under the stars with a lover and goes on with the need for a sense of security, which can be achieved through kisses , hugs, and the reassurance that the partner will always be there
Even when one is afraid that all could be lost, thoughts and dreams will help to overcome all doubts and feel safe and happy.

SOGNAMI UN POCHINO

Le stelle risplendono lucenti su di te
Le brezze notturne sembrano sussurrare “Ti amo”
Gli uccelli cantano sui platani
Fa’ un piccolo sogno su di me

Dimmi buonanotte e baciami
Semplicemente tienimi stretta e dimmi che ti mancherò
Mentre sarò sola e triste più che mai
fa’ un piccolo sogno su di me

Le stelle stanno scomparendo ma io indugio, caro
desiderando un altro tuo bacio
Ho voglia di attardarmi fino all’alba, caro
semplicemente dicendo questo

Fa’ dolci sogni finché i raggi del sole non ti troveranno
dolci sogni che allontanino ogni  tutte preoccupazione
Ma nei tuoi sogni, qualsiasi essi siano
sognami un pochino

(L.Z.)

81 thoughts on “Mama Jazz”

  9. Che bella e romantica, fai sempre e condividi, delle ottime scelte poetiche e musicali, mi fa molto piacere l’averti conosciuta e seguirti. Buon proseguimento di giornata.

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  10. This is a beautiful romantic jazz song. Ella Fitzegerald is such an iconic singer and she sings it like she means every word. I like your closing words and message, that our dreams and innermost thoughts can keep us safe and happy. It’s all about trusting ourselves to keep moving on. Thanks for sharing, Luisa 💕

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  15. Voce favolosa e canzone dolcissima che entra nell’anima. Non conoscevo la traduzione in italiano. Grazie Luisa per avermi dato la possibilità di leggere parole così belle e dolci ❤ 🙂

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  22. Very great woman, a real (never fadng) star, a still young grandmother of jazz and singing. I limke another great woman of Black Music, consider her tne “Ray Charles’s female version”, just as we in Italy say “ray charles in gonnella” (it was said so for Mia Martini in Italy: “Battisti in MInigonna”, when she was young, ad sun very rithmic songs – “piccolo uoo”, “dnna sola”….) ; such Ray Charles ‘s female “backup” is Aretha Franklin, a great Lady of Soul. Destiniy is strange: do you know Ray Clarles mother’s name? Aretha, who accompanied her little blind child to a baptist church, and ther Ray learned to sing, and play the “armonium”, and after, inside and outside the church “environment”, the piano. Ciao 🙂

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