The Girl That I Marry
Eddy Howard Lyrics

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The girl that I marry will have to be
As soft and as pink as a nursery
The girl I call my own
Will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne

Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
'stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'

Next to her and she'll purr like a kitten

A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be

Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
'stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'
Next to her and she'll purr like a kitten

A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song The Girl That I Marry by Eddy Howard describe the ideal bride of the singer. He wants a woman who is delicate and feminine like a baby girl. She should wear luxurious fabrics, perfume, and have a sophisticated appearance. The singer values outward appearances and femininity above all else.

The song was written by Irving Berlin in 1946 for the musical Annie Get Your Gun. The original version was sung by Howard Keel, who played the lead male role in the production. The song was also recorded by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, among others.

The lyrics have been criticized for promoting outdated gender roles and placing too much emphasis on appearance. The phrase "soft and pink as a nursery" is particularly controversial, as it sexualizes women and infantilizes them at the same time.

Despite the criticisms, the song has endured as a popular love ballad. It has been covered by many artists over the years and has been featured in films and television shows. The melody is catchy and the lyrics are easy to sing along with, making it a crowd-pleaser at weddings and other romantic events.

Line by Line Meaning

The girl that I marry will have to be
The woman I choose to marry must meet certain standards that I have set for her.

As soft and as pink as a nursery
She should be gentle and delicate, like a newborn baby.

The girl I call my own
The woman I choose to call my own, my partner for life.

Will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne
She should dress elegantly and smell nice with perfumes, to complement my own image.

Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She should take care of her appearance with manicured nails and styled hair.

She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
She should wear a flower, symbolizing our union, and I will always be by her side.

'stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'
Instead of wandering, I will sit beside her, content in our relationship.

Next to her and she'll purr like a kitten
Being near her will bring comfort and contentment, like the purring of a cat.

A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be
I want a wife who is like a precious doll that I can hold and cherish.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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