Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in the third floor bedroom of her grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. Growing up near Famous Players-Lasky's Astoria Studios, young Ethel often watched the silent movie stars drive by in their massive cars, and she dreamed of joining their ranks one day. Her powerful voice won attention when her family worshipped at Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church, and she began making local concert appearances. She also frequently attended vaudeville performances at The Palace Theater in Manhattan, watching great stars like Fanny Brice and Sophie Tucker.
Ethel's parents Edward (an accountant) and Agnes (a school teacher) understood Ethel's love of singing, but they did not see show business as a reliable career choice for a woman. They insisted that she get a solid education with thorough training in secretarial skills, so she would have something to fall back on if her dreams of stardom didn't pan out. After Ethel graduating William Cullen Bryant High School, she earned a respectable $28 a week as a stenographer for the owner of a local factory. She picked up extra money by singing at private parties and in night clubs. Ethel was so efficient that her indulgent boss (who only came in two days a week) overlooked her taking nap breaks at the office after late night performances. When Ethel's gigs multiplied, her parents accepted the inevitable and allowed her to give up the day job and sing full-time.
I Got Lost in His Arms
Ethel Merman Lyrics
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I wish I knew
I can't believe that it's happened
And still it's true
I got lost in his arms and I had to stay
It was dark in his arms and I lost my way
And it seemed to say
There you go
There you go
How I felt as I fell I just can't recall
But his arms held me fast and it broke the fall
And I said to my heart
As it foolishly kept jumping all around
I got lost but look what I found
(There you go, there you go)
How I felt as I fell I just can't recall
But his arms held me fast and it broke the fall
And I said to my heart
As it foolishly kept jumping all around
I got lost but look what I found
The above lyrics are from the song "I Got Lost In His Arms" by Ethel Merman. The song describes the overwhelming feeling of being in love and getting lost in the arms of someone special. The singer says she doesn't know how it happened or why, but she ended up getting lost in his arms and had to stay. She describes the darkness and how she lost her way, but then she heard a voice that seemed to guide her. When she fell, his arms held her fast and broke the fall. Despite feeling foolish, her heart kept jumping all around because of the love she found while being lost in his arms.
The lyrics of the song are very poetic and can be interpreted in different ways. Some people interpret it as the singer getting lost in the physical embrace of someone, while others interpret it as her getting lost in the emotions and feelings of being in love. The song has a very romantic and dream-like quality to it, and the way it is sung by Ethel Merman adds to the magic of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't ask me just how it happened
I don't know how I ended up in this situation
I wish I knew
I am not sure how to explain it
I can't believe that it's happened
I am still in disbelief that this occurred
And still it's true
Despite my doubts, it really did happen
I got lost in his arms and I had to stay
I became completely engrossed in his embrace and could not bring myself to leave
It was dark in his arms and I lost my way
I became disoriented and lost my sense of direction while held by him
From the dark came a voice
A voice emerged from the darkness
And it seemed to say
The voice appeared to be conveying a message
There you go
It was as though I was being led down a path
(There you go, there you go)
The voice may have been repeating this phrase to guide me further
How I felt as I fell I just can't recall
I cannot remember what I felt when I began to let go and fall into his embrace
But his arms held me fast and it broke the fall
Thankfully, his arms caught me and prevented any harm in my descent
And I said to my heart
I spoke to my inner feelings
As it foolishly kept jumping all around
Despite the unexpectedness of this event, my emotions were in a state of excitement
I got lost but look what I found
I may have lost my sense of direction, but in that moment, I found something special
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind