In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").
Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)
Dearly Beloved
Fred Astaire Lyrics
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Tell me you agree,
I was meant for you,
You were meant for me.
[Chorus:]
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
Angel eyes knew you,
Angel voices led me to you
Nothing could save me,
Fate gave me a sign
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine
So I say merely,
Dearly beloved be mine.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Fred Astaire’s song “Dearly Beloved” is a declaration of love built on destiny and the belief that some supernatural forces have brought two people together to fulfill a preordained purpose. The first verse, “Tell me that it’s true/Tell me you agree/I was meant for you/You were meant for me,” suggests a belief that the universe has aligned two people to be together. The chorus of the song repeats this notion and expands on it, citing the heavens and the angels’ involvement in this coming-together. The phrase “Angel eyes knew you/Angels voices led me to you” seems to imply an ethereal dimension to their love story, that their coming together was beyond this world, and it was guided and orchestrated by some divine force.
The last two lines of the chorus, “I know that I’ll be yours come shower or shine/So I say merely/Dearly beloved be mine” further underscores the conviction that they were meant to be together, and regardless of the circumstances, their love would endure. The song’s message is straightforward, clear, and leaves one with the belief that true love is predestined, and despite the challenges it faces, it will always prevail.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me that it's true,
Confirm that my feeling is mutual.
Tell me you agree,
Do you love me too?
I was meant for you,
Our destinies are intertwined.
You were meant for me.
Our lives were always meant to intersect.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
My love for you is crystal clear.
Somewhere in heaven you were fashioned for me,
Our love was predestined.
Angel eyes knew you,
The heavens have always seen your beauty.
Angel voices led me to you
The angels guided me to you because our love was meant to be.
Nothing could save me,
I am helplessly in love with you.
Fate gave me a sign
It was destiny that brought us together.
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine
I promise to love you through thick and thin.
So I say merely,
I say with simplicity and sincerity.
Dearly beloved be mine.
My love, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, JOHN H. MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind