Self-taught on the guitar, Otis Whitman worked at a shipyard in Tampa while developing a musical career, eventually performing with a band known as the "Variety Rhythm Boys". Whitman's first big break came when agent Colonel Tom Parker heard him singing on the radio and offered to represent him. Signed with RCA Records, he was billed as the cowboy singer, "Slim Whitman" and released his first 45rpm single in 1948. He toured and sang at a variety of venues including on the popular radio show, the Louisiana Hayride.
He only became a full time musician in the early 1950s after he recorded a version of the Bob Nolan hit Love Song of the Waterfall that made it into the country music Top 10 chart. His next single, Indian Love Call, was even more successful, going to the No.2 position (and actually saving the world in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks! where it proves fatal to the invading Martians). A yodeler, Whitman avoided the "down on yer luck-buried in booze" songs, preferring instead to sing laid-back romantic melodies about simple life and love.
In 1955, in the United Kingdom, he had a No.1 hit on the pop music charts with Rose Marie. With eleven weeks at the top of the charts, the song set a record that lasted for thirty-six years. Soon after recording this big hit Whitman was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry and in 1957, along with other musical stars, he appeared in the film musical, Jamboree. Despite this type of exposure, he never achieved the level of stardom in the United States that he did in Britain where he had a number of hits during the 1950s and 60s. Throughout the early 1970s, he continued to record and was a guest on Wolfman Jack's musical television show, The Midnight Special. At the time, Whitman's recording efforts were yielding only minor hits and in 1974 he stopped making new records.
Rose Marie
Slim Whitman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Rose, my Rose Marie
Oh Rose Marie, I love you
I'm always dreaming of you
No matter what I do, I can't forget you
Sometimes I wish that I never met you
And yet, if I should lose you
Would mean my very life to me
Of all the queens that ever lived, I choose you
To rule me, my Rose Marie
Of all the queens that ever lived, I choose you
To rule me, my Rose Marie
La da da-da da da, da da da da da da
Oh Rose, my Rose Marie
The song "Rose Marie" by Slim Whitman is a heartfelt love song that speaks about the love that the singer has for a woman called Rose Marie. The opening lines of the song depict the singer's admiration for Rose and the remaining lyrics express how he cannot live without her. He talks about how he is always dreaming of her and cannot forget her, even though sometimes he wishes he never met her. This shows that the singer is deeply in love with her but is conflicted about his feelings for her.
Towards the end of the song, the singer professes how losing Rose Marie would mean the end of his life. He goes on to say that despite all the queens that have ever lived, he chooses Rose Marie as the one to rule him. The entire song conveys the strong feelings of love, admiration, and longing that the singer has for his beloved Rose Marie.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Rose Marie" are a powerful expression of love, with the singer's emotions being palpable in every verse. It's a classic love song that has resonated with audiences for generations, and that will continue to be a favorite for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
La da da da da, da da da da da da
Instrumental opening to the song
Oh Rose, my Rose Marie
An expression of love for Rose Marie, the recipient of the song
Oh Rose Marie, I love you
The singer's love for Rose Marie is declared
I'm always dreaming of you
Rose Marie is always on the artist's mind
No matter what I do, I can't forget you
The artist's attempts to forget Rose Marie are unsuccessful
Sometimes I wish that I never met you
The singer is conflicted about their love for Rose Marie
And yet, if I should lose you
Despite the conflicts, the singer cannot imagine living without Rose Marie
Would mean my very life to me
Rose Marie's absence would be devastating to the artist
Of all the queens that ever lived, I choose you
Out of all the possible partners, the artist has chosen Rose Marie to love
To rule me, my Rose Marie
Rose Marie is the artist's chosen leader and love interest
La da da-da da da, da da da da da da
Instrumental closing to the song
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERBERT STOTHART, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, OTTO A. HARBACH, RUDOLF FRIML
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind