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.
Manhattan
Ethel Merman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To Niagara
And to other places
Aggravate all our cares
We'll save our fares
I've a cozy little flat
In what is known as old Manhattan
Right here in town
We'll have Manhattan
The Bronx and Staten Island, too
It's lovely going through
The zoo
It's very fancy
On old Delancey Street, you know
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro
And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by
The great big city's a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy
We'll go to Greenwich
Where modern men itch
To be free
And Bowling Green you'll see
With me
We'll bathe at Brighton
The fish you'll frighten
When you're in
Your bathing suit so thin
Will make the shellfish grin
Fin to fin
I'd like to take a
Sail on Jamaica Bay with you
And fair Canarsie's lake
We'll view
The city's bustle cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy
We'll go to Yonkers
Where true love conquers
In the wilds
And starve together, dear
In Childs'
We'll go to Coney
And eat baloney
On a roll
In Central Park we'll stroll
Where our first kiss we stole
Soul to soul
Our future babies
We'll take to "Abie's Irish Rose"
I hope they'll live to see
It close
The city's clamor can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy
We'll have Manhattan
The Bronx and Staten Island, too
We'll try to cross Fifth Avenue
As black as onyx
We'll find the Bronnix Park Express
Our Flatbush flat, I guess
Will be a great success
More or less
A short vacation
On Inspiration Point
We'll spend
And in the station house we'll end
But civic virtue cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy
The song "Manhattan" by Ethel Merman is a beautiful love letter to the city that never sleeps. The song speaks of the joys of turning Manhattan into an isle of joy. The song highlights the beautiful places in Manhattan, including Niagara and old Manhattan. It also touches upon the Bronx, Staten Island, the zoo, Delancey street, and the charming subway. Ethel Merman sings about the pushcarts gently gliding by Mott Street in July, and how it is incomparable to any other street. The song emphasizes the beauty of the city, even in the hustle and bustle of the city's daily life.
Ethel Merman tells us that the city is a wondrous toy, painted just for a boy and girl. The couple's future children will be taken to the show, "Abie's Irish Rose." Ethel Merman also includes Yonkers, where true love conquers in the wilds, and Coney Island where they'll eat baloney on a roll. The couple's romance is emphasized when they soulfully stroll through Central Park, where they stole their first kiss.
The song uplifts the spirit and reminds us that the beauty of the city is much more than just the city's clamor, and its dreams of a boy and goil can never be spoiled. Ethel Merman reminds us that the city always changes, but the beauty of the memories in the city remains eternally. In "Manhattan," she tells us that we can turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer journeys
Travelling in the summer
To Niagara
Going to Niagara Falls
And to other places
And other destinations
Aggravate all our cares
Make our worries worse
We'll save our fares
Save our money for later
I've a cozy little flat
I have a small, comfortable apartment
In what is known as old Manhattan
Located in the historic district of Manhattan
We'll settle down
We'll make our home
Right here in town
In this city
We'll have Manhattan
We'll enjoy New York City
The Bronx and Staten Island, too
As well as The Bronx and Staten Island
It's lovely going through
It's enjoyable to explore
The zoo
The Central Park Zoo
It's very fancy
It's upscale and elegant
On old Delancey Street, you know
You know, on the historic Delancey Street
The subway charms us so
We love taking the subway
When balmy breezes blow
During warm summer days
To and fro
Back and forth
And tell me what street
And can you think of another street
Compares with Mott Street
That's as good as Mott Street
In July
During the month of July
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by
With vendors selling goods from their carts
The great big city's a wondrous toy
The city is like a playground
Just made for a girl and boy
Perfect for couples to enjoy
We'll turn Manhattan
We'll make New York City
Into an isle of joy
A happy and delightful place
We'll go to Greenwich
We'll visit Greenwich Village
Where modern men itch
Where artists and intellectuals gather
To be free
To express themselves freely
And Bowling Green you'll see
And we'll also go to Bowling Green
With me
Together
We'll bathe at Brighton
We'll swim at Brighton Beach
The fish you'll frighten
We'll scare the fish with our swimming
When you're in
When you're wearing
Your bathing suit so thin
Your skimpy swimsuit
Will make the shellfish grin
The clams and oysters will be amused
Fin to fin
From head to toe
I'd like to take a
I would enjoy taking a
Sail on Jamaica Bay with you
Sailing in Jamaica Bay together
And fair Canarsie's lake
And we'll also visit Canarsie Lake
We'll view
We'll enjoy the view
The city's bustle cannot destroy
The chaos of the city can't ruin
The dreams of a girl and boy
Our hopes and aspirations
We'll turn Manhattan
We'll make New York City
Into an isle of joy
A happy and delightful place
We'll go to Yonkers
We'll visit Yonkers
Where true love conquers
Where love prevails
In the wilds
In the countryside
And starve together, dear
And we'll struggle together, my love
In Childs'
At Childs' restaurant
We'll go to Coney
We'll visit Coney Island
And eat baloney
And enjoy some baloney
On a roll
On a sandwich
In Central Park we'll stroll
We'll walk leisurely in Central Park
Where our first kiss we stole
Where we first kissed secretly
Soul to soul
With our hearts connected
Our future babies
Our future children
We'll take to "Abie's Irish Rose"
We'll introduce them to "Abie's Irish Rose" play
I hope they'll live to see
I hope they'll be around to witness
It close
The play's end
The city's clamor can never spoil
The city's noise can't ruin
The dreams of a boy and goil
Our hopes and dreams
We'll turn Manhattan
We'll make New York City
Into an isle of joy
A happy and delightful place
We'll have Manhattan
We'll enjoy New York City
The Bronx and Staten Island, too
As well as The Bronx and Staten Island
We'll try to cross Fifth Avenue
We'll attempt to cross Fifth Avenue
As black as onyx
Which is very crowded
We'll find the Bronnix Park Express
We'll take the train to Bronx Park
Our Flatbush flat, I guess
Our apartment in Flatbush, I assume
Will be a great success
Will be a wonderful place to live
More or less
Roughly speaking
A short vacation
A brief holiday
On Inspiration Point
At Inspiration Point
We'll spend
We'll enjoy some time there
And in the station house we'll end
And we'll end up at the train station
But civic virtue cannot destroy
Even moral values can't ruin
The dreams of a girl and boy
Our hopes and aspirations
We'll turn Manhattan
We'll make New York City
Into an isle of joy
A happy and delightful place
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind