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.
Mr. Goldstone
Ethel Merman Lyrics
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Momma Rose
Have an eggroll, Mr. Goldstone.
Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair.
Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone.
Any spare that I can spare I'll be glad to share!
Have a dish, have a fork, have a fish, have a pork.
Have a smoke, have a Coke.
Would you like to hear a joke?
I'll have June recite a poem!
Have a leechie, Mr. Goldstone.
Tell me any little thing that I can do.
Ginger peachy, Mr. Goldstone.
Have a kumquat, have two!
Everybody give a cheer.
Santa Claus is sitting here.
Mr. Goldstone I love you!
Have a Goldstone, Mr. Eggroll.
Tell me any little thing that I can do.
Have some fried rice, Mr. Soy Sauce.
Have a cookie, have a few!
What's the matter, Mr. G?
Have another pot of tea.
Mr. Goldstone I love you!
There are good stones and bad stones and curbstones and gladstones and touchstones and such stones as them.
There are big stones and small stones and grind stones and gall stones,
But Goldstone is a gem!
There are milestones, there are mill stones.
There's a cherry, there's a yellow, there's a blue.
But we don't want any old stone, only Goldstone will do!
Moon stones, sun stones.
We all scream for one stone.
Mr. Goldstone we love you!
Goldstone!
"Mr. Goldstone I Love You" is a song performed by Ethel Merman in the 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy". The song is about Mama Rose's desperate attempts to convince Mr. Goldstone to invest in her daughter's act. She dotes on him, offering him various foods and drinks, and even goes as far as to have her daughter recite a poem for his entertainment. The song is upbeat and comic, with lyrics that are meant to be interpreted in a light-hearted manner.
The song's lyrics are a commentary on the difficult and competitive world of show business, where investors hold the key to success. Mama Rose's attempts to ingratiate herself with Mr. Goldstone represent the lengths to which people will go to try and get ahead in the industry. The lyrics also incorporate some wordplay and puns, such as "Have a Goldstone, Mr. Eggroll" and "Ginger peachy, Mr. Goldstone".
Line by Line Meaning
Rose, this is Mr. Goldstone.
Introducing Mr. Goldstone to Rose
Momma Rose
Addressing Rose
Have an eggroll, Mr. Goldstone.
Offer Mr. Goldstone an eggroll
Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair.
Offer Mr. Goldstone napkin, chopstick, and chair
Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone.
Offer Mr. Goldstone a spare rib
Any spare that I can spare I'll be glad to share!
Willingness to share anything she can spare with Mr. Goldstone
Have a dish, have a fork, have a fish, have a pork.
Offer Mr. Goldstone a dish, fork, fish, and pork
Put your feet up. Feel at home.
Make Mr. Goldstone feel comfortable
Have a smoke, have a Coke.
Offer Mr. Goldstone a cigarette or a Coca-Cola
Would you like to hear a joke?
Ask Mr. Goldstone if he wants to hear a joke
I'll have June recite a poem!
Offer to have June recite a poem for Mr. Goldstone
Have a leechie, Mr. Goldstone.
Offer Mr. Goldstone a lychee fruit
Tell me any little thing that I can do.
Offering to do anything for Mr. Goldstone
Ginger peachy, Mr. Goldstone.
Offer Mr. Goldstone a ginger peach or anything else he wants
Have a kumquat, have two!
Offer Mr. Goldstone a kumquat fruit or two
Everybody give a cheer.
Asking everyone to cheer for Mr. Goldstone
Santa Claus is sitting here.
Comparing Mr. Goldstone with Santa Claus, as he brings joy
Mr. Goldstone I love you!
Expressing love towards Mr. Goldstone
Have a Goldstone, Mr. Eggroll.
Offering Mr. Goldstone as much as he wants
Have some fried rice, Mr. Soy Sauce.
Offering Mr. Goldstone anything he wants
Have a cookie, have a few!
Offer Mr. Goldstone a cookie or a few
What's the matter, Mr. G?
Asking Mr. Goldstone if he wants anything else
Have another pot of tea.
Offering Mr. Goldstone more tea
Mr. Goldstone I love you!
Expressing love towards Mr. Goldstone
There are good stones and bad stones and curbstones and gladstones and touchstones and such stones as them.
Naming various types of stones
There are big stones and small stones and grind stones and gall stones,
Naming various sizes and types of stones
But Goldstone is a gem!
Goldstone is special and rare
There are milestones, there are mill stones.
Naming other types of stones
There's a cherry, there's a yellow, there's a blue.
Naming various colors of stones
But we don't want any old stone, only Goldstone will do!
Nothing less than Goldstone is acceptable
Moon stones, sun stones.
Naming different types of stones based on celestial bodies
We all scream for one stone.
Everyone wants Goldstone
Mr. Goldstone we love you!
Expressing love towards Mr. Goldstone
Goldstone!
Emphasizing the importance of Goldstone
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind