God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"God Bless the Child" is a song by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. She first sang it in 1939. The lyrics reference a Biblical verse, probably Luke19:26.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Origin and Interpretation
In Lady Sings the Blues Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She indicated that during the argument she said the line "God Bless the child that's got his own." The anger over the incident led her to turn that line into a starting point for a song, which she worked out in conjunction with Herzog. In Jazz Singing Will Friedwald indicates it as "sacred and profane" as it references the Bible while indicating that religion seems to have no effect in making people treat each other better.[2]
[edit] Covers
The song was covered by several musicians in the 1960s including; Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Stevie Wonder.[3] It has also been performed by Eva Cassidy, Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, and others. It also inspired a children's picture book.[4]Katharine McPhee performed this song on her first audition for American Idol. It was included on the The Simpsons Sing the Blues album, performed by Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith).
[edit] Appearances in the media
[edit] Film[5]
[edit] Television
- Theme song for the first two seasons of Roc, sung by Jerry Lawson
- Grey's Anatomy: Sung by Chandra Wilson in Staring at the Sun
- American Idol: Sung by Katharine McPhee in her audition in San Francisco and also sung by LaKisha Jones on March 13, 2007
[edit] References
- ^ Bible Gateway
- ^ Liner notes pages 6 and 7 in Billie Holiday's Greatest Hits
- ^ Secondhand Songs
- ^ Powells
- ^ IMDB
 |
This song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
