Billie Holiday — God Bless The Child
Album: Lady Sings The BluesAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 2284
Length: 3:56
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Them that's got shall have
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible says and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Yes the strong get smart
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Money, you've got lots of friends
They're crowding around your door
But when you're gone and spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself, but don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Money you've got lots of friends
They're crowding around your door
But when you're gone and spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself, but don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Here just don't worry about nothing cause he's got his own
Yes, he's got his own
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible says and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Yes the strong get smart
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Money, you've got lots of friends
They're crowding around your door
But when you're gone and spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself, but don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Money you've got lots of friends
They're crowding around your door
But when you're gone and spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give crusts of bread and such
You can help yourself, but don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own
Here just don't worry about nothing cause he's got his own
Yes, he's got his own
Comments (62)add comment
Sing one for me up there Billie, I kind of need it at the moment.
unclehud wrote:
I think she's being ironic or cynical, apparently spitting her mom's own words back as her. Perhaps it's just at hard to read sarcasm in older prose & lyrics, as it is on internet posts.
I know, at least for myself, this interpretation makes the song much more enjoyable and less saccharine-sweet/unrealistic.
I like this song, and love Ms Holliday's voice and phrasing. What I don't get are the lyrics.
What does it mean, " ... a child that's got his own ... "? If it means a child that has his own money ... I don't understand how that happens outside of Hollywood kid stardom.
For that matter, "Yes, the strong get smart "... well, I've known a lot of strong, but dumb, folks that haven't wised up during the 40 years they've been my friends. Am I missing the interpretation there, too?
I think she's being ironic or cynical, apparently spitting her mom's own words back as her. Perhaps it's just at hard to read sarcasm in older prose & lyrics, as it is on internet posts.
I know, at least for myself, this interpretation makes the song much more enjoyable and less saccharine-sweet/unrealistic.
everyone i highly recommend lady sings the blues, about billie holiday, great movie
Makes me hope that somehow she gets the news that she's loved for who she was, and still is.
For Billie with love, always. bimmerfan739 wrote:
I Agree! I first heard the B,S, &T version when I was 13, in 1968. My buddy's older brother had the album. He just returned from Vietnam and had a killer stereo, that he bought at the PX in Japan. I went right out and bought it after hearing it on his stereo!
Love the BS&T version, which was the first I heard, but God Bless Billie!
I Agree! I first heard the B,S, &T version when I was 13, in 1968. My buddy's older brother had the album. He just returned from Vietnam and had a killer stereo, that he bought at the PX in Japan. I went right out and bought it after hearing it on his stereo!
jen3005545 wrote:
and God bless Billie
and God bless Billie
The juxtaposition of Billie being played after Natalie Merchant track is interesting...Lady Day gets all the respect and praise, in spite of a pretty unique voice. Natalie gets tons of grief, because of a pretty unique voice. Hmmm.
Pretty sure the extremes aren't deserved in either case.
Pretty sure the extremes aren't deserved in either case.
hightail wrote:
What did you drink with your dinner ? Or indeed had you indulged in a preprandial cocktail before the pre-dinner red ?
One of the best musicians at all time for me. Love this wonderful lady!!
Can't go wrong with Billie at any time of the day and this just came on as I opened a bottle of pre-dinner red wine.
What did you drink with your dinner ? Or indeed had you indulged in a preprandial cocktail before the pre-dinner red ?
bimmerfan739 wrote:
Same here!!!
Love the BS&T version, which was the first I heard, but God Bless Billie!
Same here!!!
Love the BS&T version, which was the first I heard, but God Bless Billie!
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
LaurieinTucson wrote:
yep! Awaaay in the mainger! LOL
I can only hear David Sedaris now,
whenever Billie comes on
whenever Billie comes on
yep! Awaaay in the mainger! LOL
unclehud wrote:
From https://genius.com/Billie-holi...
"In her controversial autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. Her mother 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."
I like this song, and love Ms Holliday's voice and phrasing. What I don't get are the lyrics.
What does it mean, " ... a child that's got his own ... "? If it means a child that has his own money ... I don't understand how that happens outside of Hollywood kid stardom.
For that matter, "Yes, the strong get smart "... well, I've known a lot of strong, but dumb, folks that haven't wised up during the 40 years they've been my friends. Am I missing the interpretation there, too?
What does it mean, " ... a child that's got his own ... "? If it means a child that has his own money ... I don't understand how that happens outside of Hollywood kid stardom.
For that matter, "Yes, the strong get smart "... well, I've known a lot of strong, but dumb, folks that haven't wised up during the 40 years they've been my friends. Am I missing the interpretation there, too?
From https://genius.com/Billie-holi...
"In her controversial autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. Her mother 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."
So good...Sonny Chillingworth ---> Billie Holiday. Thanks, Bill and Rebecca!
I like this song, and love Ms Holliday's voice and phrasing. What I don't get are the lyrics.
What does it mean, " ... a child that's got his own ... "? If it means a child that has his own money ... I don't understand how that happens outside of Hollywood kid stardom.
For that matter, "Yes, the strong get smart "... well, I've known a lot of strong, but dumb, folks that haven't wised up during the 40 years they've been my friends. Am I missing the interpretation there, too?
What does it mean, " ... a child that's got his own ... "? If it means a child that has his own money ... I don't understand how that happens outside of Hollywood kid stardom.
For that matter, "Yes, the strong get smart "... well, I've known a lot of strong, but dumb, folks that haven't wised up during the 40 years they've been my friends. Am I missing the interpretation there, too?
gregskrtic wrote:
Yep, yep, yep.
no. no. no.
Yep, yep, yep.
I can only hear David Sedaris now,
whenever Billie comes on
whenever Billie comes on
Variety - the stuff of life. Billie is always a welcome listen
Shaker wrote:
and God bless Billie
God bless Radio Paradise!
Thank you, you two.
Thank you, you two.
and God bless Billie
God bless Radio Paradise!
Thank you, you two.
Thank you, you two.
Highlowsel wrote:
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
bstevens1951 wrote:
Please don't ever confuse Billie Holiday with David Clayton Thomas & Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Please don't ever confuse Billie Holiday with David Clayton Thomas & Blood, Sweat and Tears.
I don't think he was "confusing" them at all; it seems like he was just comparing the two versions of this song. Still, that BS&T version is pretty weak IMO.
One of the best musicians at all time for me. Love this wonderful lady!!
Can't go wrong with Billie at any time of the day and this just came on as I opened a bottle of pre-dinner red wine.
Can't go wrong with Billie at any time of the day and this just came on as I opened a bottle of pre-dinner red wine.
Please don't ever confuse Billie Holiday with David Clayton Thomas & Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Highlowsel wrote:
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Highlowsel wrote:
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Is it Billie... or is it David Sedaris?
Proclivities wrote:
Came here to look up the lyrics. They didn't help much. Saw this. It helped a lot!
Came here to look up the lyrics. They didn't help much. Saw this. It helped a lot!
boontonite wrote:
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
This is great, as is the Blood, Sweat & Tears version from the 70's
Indeed. I mean no disrespect to Lady Billie but I've always kind'a liked, better, BST's version of this. Or maybe it's the version I heard first way back when. Regardless, a great tune with a ton of relevance (still) today.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
God Bless Billie!
TerryS wrote:
Perhaps you got it all backwards, it may be time to kiss your elbow.
Or maybe I didn't, and you already have.
Perhaps you got it all backwards, it may be time to kiss your elbow.
Or maybe I didn't, and you already have.
ODAD wrote:
Perhaps you got it all backwards, it may be time to kiss your elbow.
OK, I got it : this is the original, she wrote it. OK.
It still sounds to me me like someone's aged aunt is
singing along to BS&T on the radio.
It still sounds to me me like someone's aged aunt is
singing along to BS&T on the radio.
Perhaps you got it all backwards, it may be time to kiss your elbow.
OK, I got it : this is the original, she wrote it. OK.
It still sounds to me me like someone's aged aunt is
singing along to BS&T on the radio.
It still sounds to me me like someone's aged aunt is
singing along to BS&T on the radio.
Luckily some words are timeless.
This is great, as is the Blood, Sweat & Tears version from the 70's
onerb wrote:
Thanks for the insight.
Cheers
Thanks for the insight.
Cheers Proclivities wrote:
Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for the insight.
onerb wrote:
It's called "sarcasm":
"In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She indicated that during the argument her mother 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 her cowriter Arthur Herzog, Jr."
What the heck is the message here? Shouldn't God be blessing the child who doesn't have his own?
It's called "sarcasm":
"In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She indicated that during the argument her mother 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 her cowriter Arthur Herzog, Jr."
onerb wrote:
Be careful: your logic could lead to the kids moving back in!
What the heck is the message here? Shouldn't God be blessing the child who doesn't have his own?
Be careful: your logic could lead to the kids moving back in!
What the heck is the message here? Shouldn't God be blessing the child who doesn't have his own?
Now ya talkin, Brotha!
This is where Sinatra learned "phrasing"
and her work with Prez? No words.
This is where Sinatra learned "phrasing"
and her work with Prez? No words.
The version by Blood, Sweat and Tears is also grand.
no. no. no.
Sublime
hayduke2 wrote:
Great image. Sounds like the perfect time for a song like this.
I was fascinated by Ms. Holliday's voice back when I worked in an old pub/music hall, my first job, just a 16 yr old repairing busted chairs from each nights' rowdy sing along stomps, the day time barkeep played her on the jukebox and man those songs sunk deep into my growing channels of memory, still great to recall...
Great image. Sounds like the perfect time for a song like this.
daveesh wrote:
Well....in reading her bio it's apparent the lady's whole life was one big trip. And not an entirely pleasant one, either. Depending on Holiday's age when your Mother saw her I expect she most probably appeared a bit....battered.....by her long (life's) road of experiences.. If there's any truth to a Heaven she surely was an Angel trying in her fashion to get the hell back to it.....as I'd like to think we're all trying to do, each in our own fashion....
Highlow
American Net'Zen
my mom saw billie holiday perform and, while she loved it, she said billie "seemed like she was on some sort of trip."
Well....in reading her bio it's apparent the lady's whole life was one big trip. And not an entirely pleasant one, either. Depending on Holiday's age when your Mother saw her I expect she most probably appeared a bit....battered.....by her long (life's) road of experiences.. If there's any truth to a Heaven she surely was an Angel trying in her fashion to get the hell back to it.....as I'd like to think we're all trying to do, each in our own fashion....
Highlow
American Net'Zen
music<3
Most familiarly performed by Blood, Sweat and Tears. Written by my great grandfather, Arthur Herzog.
Awful!
daveesh wrote:
You think?
my mom saw billie holiday perform and, while she loved it, she said billie "seemed like she was on some sort of trip."
You think?
Bless that voice
Billie Holiday — God Bless The Child
On a ROLL. Love Billie Holiday, although my favorite version of this song is by Ray Charles. As Highlowsel said, BS&Ts version also good.
On a ROLL. Love Billie Holiday, although my favorite version of this song is by Ray Charles. As Highlowsel said, BS&Ts version also good.
my mom saw billie holiday perform and, while she loved it, she said billie "seemed like she was on some sort of trip."
(My Roku player is about an hour behind the times, apparently, so this is just playing now for me.)
WOW, what a great sound. I am really glad to hear this in your rotation, Bill and Rebecca. Top of the charts for me!
WOW, what a great sound. I am really glad to hear this in your rotation, Bill and Rebecca. Top of the charts for me!
Inimitable? I think not...
https://www.openculture.com/2013/10/david-sedaris-sings-the-oscar-mayer-theme-song-in-the-voice-of-billie-holiday.html
skindy wrote:
https://www.openculture.com/2013/10/david-sedaris-sings-the-oscar-mayer-theme-song-in-the-voice-of-billie-holiday.html
skindy wrote:
Oh, that classic, inimitable voice... 
Love this..also like the old Blood Sweat and Tears rendition, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6bFqam9yas
I was fascinated by Ms. Holliday's voice back when I worked in an old pub/music hall, my first job, just a 16 yr old repairing busted chairs from each nights' rowdy sing along stomps, the day time barkeep played her on the jukebox and man those songs sunk deep into my growing channels of memory, still great to recall...
Wonderful. And Madeleine Peyroux is just fine on her own.
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches believes this song is good for the ears...
by god when she was good she was GOOD!. Madelaine Peroux et al - back to school......
aaaaahhhhh !!!!! billie
Surprised to hear this! Great voice!
Oh, that classic, inimitable voice...