Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress… Read Full Bio ↴Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her belting voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Some People", "Rose's Turn", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely", "Friendship", "You're the Top", "Anything Goes", and "There's No Business Like Show Business", which later became her theme song.
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.
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.
World Take Me Back
Ethel Merman Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ethel Merman:
A Lady Needs A Change Just one brand new man to love me Makes a brand…
A Little Girl from Little Rock We're just two little girls from Little Rock. We lived on…
A Lot Of Livin' To Do There are girls just ripe for some kissin' And I mean…
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody I have an ear for music, and I have an…
Alexander's Ragtime Band Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band …
Alexanders Ragtime Band Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band…
Americana: Satan's Li'l Lamb When the wind goes a whip whip whip whip whippin'…
An Earful of Music There is a ??? In my ears And it's awful nice…
Annie Get Your Gun: You Can't Get A Man With A Gun Oh, my mother was frightened by a shotgun, they say That's…
Anything Goes: I Get a Kick Out of You My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
Anything You Can Do Anything you can do, I can do better than You…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Blow Gabriel Blow Blow Gabriel blow Go on and blow, Gabriel, blow I've been a…
Blow, Gabriel, Blow Blow Gabriel blow! Go on and blow, Gabriel, blow! I've been …
But Not for Me They're writing songs of love, but not for me A lucky…
Call Me Madam Finale I hear singing and there's no one there, I smell blossoms…
Dearie Dearie, do you remember when we Waltzed to the Sousa band My…
Do I Love You After that sweet Summer afternoon When for the first time I…
Doin What Comes Naturlly Folks are dumb where I come from, They ain't had…
Down In the Depths Manhattan, I'm up a tree The one I've most adored Is bored…
Down in the Depths of the 90th Floor Manhattan-I'm up a tree The one I've most adored Is…
Eadie Was A Lady Maud and Mabel, seated at a table Talking over bygone days M…
Eadie Was A Lady Part 1 & Part 2 Maud and Mabel, seated at a table Talking over bygone days …
Earful Of Music There is a ??? In my ears And it's awful nice…
Eddie Was a Lady Maud and Mabel, seated at a table Talking over bygone days M…
Everything's Coming Up Roses Here we are in court today Rose just took the stand She's…
Friendship If you're ever in a jam, here I am If…
Gypsy: Everything's Coming up Roses Here we are in court today Rose just took the stand She's…
Gypsy: Mr. Goldstone I Love You Rose, this is Mr. Goldstone. Momma Rose Have an eggroll,…
Gypsy: Mr. Goldstone, I Love You Have an eggroll, Mr. Goldstone. Have a napkin, have a chopst…
Gypsy: Rose's Turn Rose Here she is, boys! Here she is, world! Here's…
Gypsy: Small World Funny, you're a stranger who's come here Come from another t…
Gypsy: Some People Rose: Anybody that stays home is dead. If I die it…
Gypsy: Together Rose: Wherever we go, whatever we do, we're gonna go throug…
Gypsy: Together Wherever We Go Wherever we go, whatever we do, We're gonna go through it…
Heat Wave We're having a heat wave, A tropical heat wave, The temperat…
Heatwave Oh! We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave The tempera…
Hey Good Lookin' When there's a sun above I always find Romantic thoughts of …
Hostess with the Mostes' I was born on a thousand acres of Oklahoma land Nothing…
How Deep Is the Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no…
I Can't Get Started I've flown around the world in a plane I've settled…
I Get a Kick out of You My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
I Got Lost In His Arms Don't ask me just how it happened I wish I knew I…
I Got Rhythm Days can be sunny, with never a sigh Don't need what…
I Got the Sun in the Morning Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't What…
I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues I got a right to sing the blues I got a…
I Said My Pajamas My baby kissed me good-night, and I am glad to…
I'd've Baked A Cake Well, well, well, look who's here. I haven't seen you in…
I'll Pay The Check I'll pay the check Without complaining I'll pay the check I'…
I'm A Bad Bad Man I'm honored, I'm flattered This greeting really mattered T…
I'm An Indian Too Like the Seminole, Navajo, Kickapoo Like those Indians I'm a…
I've Got a Crush On You How glad the many millions of Annabelles and Lillians Would …
I've Got Rythym How glad the many millions of Annabelles and Lillians Would…
I've Still Got My Health I'm always a flop at a top-notch affair, But I've still…
If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake Well, well, well, look who's here. I haven't seen you in…
If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake Well, well, well, look who's here. I haven't seen you in…
In Caliente: The Lady In Red I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did…
It The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
It's A Lovely Day Today It's a lovely day today So whatever you've got to do You've…
It's D'Lovely The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
It's De-Lovely The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
It's the Animal in Me My heart beats with a tum tum beat Throbbing to the…
Just In Time I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter Life was…
Just One of Those Things It was just one of those things Just one of those…
Let Me Entertain You Let me entertain you let me see you smile i will do…
Let's Be Buddies I get awful gloomy You mean, very gloomy Very gloomy, now an…
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries People are queer, they're always crowing, scrambling and rus…
M. Goldstone I Love You Rose, this is Mr. Goldstone. Momma Rose Have an eggroll,…
Make It Another Old Fashioned Please Since I went on the wagon, I'm certain drink is…
Make The Man Love Me I must try to make the man love me, Make the…
Manhattan Summer journeys To Niagara And to other places Aggravate all…
Marrying For Love It's an old-fashioned idea, marryin' for love, And that old …
Moonshine Lullaby Behind the hill There's a busy little still Where your Pappy…
Mr Goldstone I Love You Rose, this is Mr. Goldstone. Momma Rose Have an eggroll,…
Mr. Goldstone I Love You Rose, this is Mr. Goldstone. Momma Rose Have an eggroll,…
My Funny Valentine Behold the way our fine feathered friend His virtue doth par…
My Walking Stick Without my walking stick, I'd go insane I can't look my…
Once Upon A Nickel I would like you to listen Pay attention and listen To a…
Red Hot And Blue Due to the tragic lowness of my brow, All music that's…
Ridin' High Life's great, life's grand, Future all planned, No more clou…
Rose's Turn Rose Here she is, boys! Here she is, world! Here's…
Satan's Little Lamb When the wind goes a whip whip whip whip whippin'…
September Song When I was a young man courting the girls I played…
Shanghai De Ho Who's gonna kiss me Who's gonna thrill me Who's gonna hold m…
Small World Funny, you're a stranger who's come here Come from another t…
Some People Rose you dream day and night Why don't you give…
Something for the Boys I'm always doing something, Something for the boys I'm alway…
Star Dust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sunrise Sunset Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little…
The Best Thing for You Please let me say from the start I don't pretend to…
The Hostess With the Mostes' I was born on a thousand acres of Oklahoma land Nothing…
The Lady in Red I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did…
The Most Beautiful Girl In the World The most beautiful girl in the world Picks my ties out,…
The Party's Over The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
The Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
There's No Business Like Show Business When the midnight choo choo leaves for Alabam' I'll be right…
There's No Business Like Showbusiness When the midnight choo choo leaves for Alabam' I'll be righ…
Theres No Business Like Show Business When the midnight choo choo leaves for Alabam' I'll be right…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so …
This Is It Something must have happened To my heart just now Suddenly m…
Together Wherever we go, whatever we do, We're gonna go through it…
Together Wherever We Go Wherever we go, whatever we do, We're gonna go through it…
Ukulele Lady I saw the splendour of the moonlight On Honolulu Bay There's…
Way Down In The Depths Manhattan, I'm up a tree The one I've most adored Is bored…
When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabama When that midnight choo-choo Leaves for Alabam' I got to ca…
Whispering Don't worry I'm not looking at you Gorgeous and dressed in…
Who Do You Love I Hope? After that sweet Summer afternoon When for the first time I…
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun Oh, my mother was frightened by a shotgun, they say That's…
You're A Builder Upper When you want to You are able to make me feel…
You're an Old Smoothie You're an old smoothie I'm an old softie I'm just like put…
You're Just in Love I hear singing and there's no one there I smell blossoms…
You're Just in Love I Wonder Why I hear singing and there's no one there I smell blossoms…
You're the Top At words poetic, I'm so pathetic That I always have…
You’re Just In Love I hear singing and there's no one there I smell blossoms…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Star Sky
What an absolute thrill it is to hear the great Merman singing this incredible song. I am so lucky to have seen her do the show. Even though it was 45 ¥ears ago that I saw her, when I listened to this recording I saw her clear as anything strutting across the stage and electrifying the audience.
Marie Marchesani
Merman was the best! I saw all of the Dolly’s. The recordings miss seeing her on stage being Merman. I saw her over twenty tim including when the record was broken and closing in December 1970..she was Broadway..what great theater....my Broadway thrilling!!!
Lance Babbitt
Star Sky
Will McMillan
Thank you for working on this recording and sharing it with us!
narphizoid
He replaced both of Dolly's big monologues with songs - and did a masterful job of it!
Tony
Hi. I have the entire final night performance of Ethel Merman, recorded non-stop and unedited. It was recorded in center orchestra by someone with a battery-powered Uher reel-to-reel tape recorder. I was in the upper balcony for that show but somehow learned of the recording and obtained a copy. It was kept sealed in a tape storage box through several households and a trans-continental move until today, when I purchased a quality old tape recorder at a thrift store. Happy to say, the tape survived copying to digital without drop-outs or magnetic cross-talk. Helluva show. Merman belts. I'll have to figure out where to post it!
Erik Romero
Aaron Booth Wow. Is that live recording of Gypsy anywhere online? Love to hear it!
Aaron Booth
Tony Russomanno The recording from that night is fantastic. One of two Merman closing night's she had recorded. (The other, of course, being Gypsy in 1961)
Fergus Murray
I think the musical worked better with the monologues, it had more of an emotion impact. It’s not that songs can’t have more impact than dialogue, but with the whimsical brass orchestrations of the readded songs... it just doesn’t sit right with me.
Michael Olbrych
Got a chance to see with Mother when movie was already out Mother said she liked movie better but wanted to see ethel 2 more times had a great time she was always thrilling to see