Today’s song of the day, “Stormy Weather,” is an American golden oldie jazz number that goes way back to the 1930s.
Fun Facts
- Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen wrote this song back in 1933. Ethel Waters first performed it at The Cotton Club in Harlem, New York.
- “Stormy Weather” is considered a torch song: a love song based on sentimentality, where the singer usually laments over a lost love. The idea of a torch is to keep the flame of light alive over unrequited love.
- Considered a standard, “Stormy Weather” is a favorite among jazz vocalists.
- This song has been sung by many popular singers over the years, including Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday.
- Lena Horne’s version is considered one of the most popular. She performed it in the 1943 movie “Stormy Weather,” which was for the benefit of WWII soldiers.
- For the American Film Institute’s 100 Years at the Movies, Lena Horne’s version of “Stormy Weather” took the number 30 spot for the top 100 songs in movies.
- Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen’s original handwritten lyrics, which showed many corrections, appraised for between $50,000 and $100,000 by the Antiques Roadshow.
- The Five Sharps recorded their version of “Stormy Weather” in 1952 as a vocal doo-wop. This group was a short-lived act, and “Stormy Weather” was considered their biggest success. Interestingly enough, their version of this song is now one of the most sought-after collectibles, with only three 78rpm records known to exist today.
Lyrics
Don’t know why
There’s no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin’ all the time
Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can’t get my poor self together
I’m weary all the time, the time
So weary all the time
When he went away, the blues walked in and met me
If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more
Can’t go on
All I have in life is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin’ all the time
Keeps rainin’ all the time
I walk around, heavy-hearted and sad
Night comes around, I’m still feelin’ bad
Rain pourin’ down, blindin’ every hope I had
This pitterin’, patterin’, beatin’ and spatterin’ drives me mad
Love, love, love, love
This misery is just too much for me
Can’t go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin’ all the time
Keeps rainin’ all the time