She was born Gertrude Alexandria Dagmar Lawrence-Klasen, of English and Danish extraction, in London, England, and was a professional performer by the age of ten. She was sent to Catholic convent schools and attended the Italia Conti Academy, presumably to keep her out of trouble. She understudied Beatrice Lillie in the Andre Charlot London revues in the 1920s and in 1921, in the revue "A to Z", she co-introduced with Jack Buchanan Furber and Braham's "Limehouse Blues". She achieved stardom when the revues were brought to Broadway in 1924 and 1926. She was one of the foremost comediennes of her day, capable of playing both slapstick clowns and elegant ladies. Her great charisma is attested to by those who saw her on stage, but her films struggle to convey her charm.
She married Francis Gordon-Howley, a director, during World War I, and they divorced in 1928, having had one daughter, Pamela (1918-2005). In 1928, she announced her engagement to Bertrand L. Taylor Jr., a New York stockbroker but the marriage was eventually called off. Lawrence then married Richard Aldrich, an American theatre owner from a blueblood family, on July 4, 1940, and they remained married until her death.
Lawrence's onstage persona inspired composers and writers. George and Ira Gershwin wrote the play Oh, Kay! for her, with the well-loved song "Someone to Watch Over Me". She was the first British actress to have a lead role on Broadway. Cole Porter wrote Nymph Errant for her to star in, and it opened in London in 1929. Noel Coward wrote Private Lives and Tonight at 8:30 (a cycle of nine one-act musicals and plays) for her. She starred as Liza Elliot in Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's psychoanalytical musical Lady in the Dark (played in the film version by Ginger Rogers), and was a popular entertainer of the troops in World War II.
In 1949 Lawrence found a book called Anna and the King of Siam, which she decided would make a perfect musical. She persuaded the American team Rodgers and Hammerstein to write it for her. The result was The King and I, which introduced such memorable songs as: "Hello Young Lovers", "Getting to Know You", and "Shall We Dance".
The King and I opened on Broadway in 1951, with Lawrence in the role of Anna, and was her greatest success; she won the 1952 Tony Award for Best Actress for her role as Anna Leonowens. Sadly, it was also her last.
Lawrence died of liver cancer, which caused her to suffer jaundice, in New York, New York at the age of only 54, and she was buried in her pink "Shall We Dance?" gown from the second act of The King and I, in Lakeview Cemetery, in Upton, Massachusetts.
In the biographical 1968 film, Star!, loosely based on her life, Lawrence was portrayed by Julie Andrews.
Lawrence's grandson is the jazz saxophonist Benn Clatworthy, who is the child of her daughter, Pamela Gordon-Howley, who was a painter, and her second husband, the British sculptor Robert Clatworthy.
My Ship
Gertrude Lawrence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The decks are trimmed with gold,
And of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold.
My ship's aglow with a million pearls
And rubies fill each bin,
The sun sits high in a sapphire sky when my ship comes in.
Till it appears
One fine day one spring,
But the pearls and such
They won't mean much if there's missing just one thing.
I do not care if that day arrives
That dream need never be,
If the ship I sing doesn't also bring
My own true love to me,
If the ship I sing doesn't also bring my own true love to me.
The lyrics of Gertrude Lawrence's beautiful song "My Ship" describe a magnificent vessel that symbolizes the singer's hopes and dreams. The ship is depicted as a magical entity that transports her to a paradise full of wonderful things like "sails that are made of silk," "decks trimmed with gold," "a million pearls," and "rubies." The lyrics have a very romantic and wistful tone as the singer describes her longing for happiness and fulfillment. However, there is a bittersweet twist at the end of the song when the singer admits that all these treasures and wonders would be meaningless if her own true love is not aboard the ship. It is a poignant reminder that material wealth and luxury cannot replace the love and connection between two people.
The song was written by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the 1941 musical "Lady in the Dark." It was originally performed by Gertrude Lawrence, who played the lead role of Liza Elliott in the show. "My Ship" quickly became one of the most beloved and enduring songs in the American Songbook, and has been covered by countless artists over the years, including Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, and Whitney Houston. The song has also been featured in multiple movies and TV shows.
Line by Line Meaning
My ship has sails that are made of silk,
The ship symbolizes one's dreams which seem luxurious and expensive like sails made of silk.
The decks are trimmed with gold,
The ship's decks are decorated with gold, adding to the grandeur and beauty of the dream.
And of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold.
Within the dream, there are treasures and delights that add to the richness of the experience.
My ship's aglow with a million pearls
The dream is made more dazzling and exquisite as it is decorated with a million pearls.
And rubies fill each bin,
The dream contains large amounts of valuable and precious rubies.
The sun sits high in a sapphire sky when my ship comes in.
When one's dream becomes a reality, it feels as though the sky is a brilliant blue and that the sun is shining down in approval.
I can wait the years
The dream can be held onto for as long as needed, no matter how long it takes.
Till it appears
The time it takes for the dream to become a reality seems long and uncertain.
One fine day one spring,
The dream will become a reality one day when least expected.
But the pearls and such
Although the dream contains many valuable and precious items,
They won't mean much if there's missing just one thing.
Without the presence of the most important things, or person, even the most valuable treasures can't provide complete happiness.
I do not care if that day arrives
The realization and attainment of the dream isn't necessary for one's happiness.
That dream need never be,
Even if the dream isn't realized, it doesn't diminish the power and beauty of the dream itself.
If the ship I sing doesn't also bring
For the fulfillment of the dream to be truly satisfying, the most important thing of all must be present.
My own true love to me,
The presence of one's own true love is the key and most important factor to complete happiness.
If the ship I sing doesn't also bring my own true love to me.
Without love, the dream isn't truly fulfilled even if all the other elements are present.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sofi 2801
My ship has sails that are made of silk
The decks are trimmed with gold
And of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold
My ship's aglow with a million pearls
And rubies fill each bin;
The sun sits high in a sapphire sky
When my ship comes in
I can wait the years
Till it appears
One fine day one spring
But the pearls and such
They won't mean much
If there's missing just one thing:
I do not care if that day arrives
That dream need never be
If the ship i sing
Doesn't also bring
My own true love to me
Donald Fedosiuk
One of the most impossibly beautiful and perfect songs ever written! Weill and Ira were towering geniuses. And Gertrude Lawrence!!!
Daniel in the Antipodes
I have been looking for this music sung by Gertrude. Helene Hanff and her friend Maxine said that this was the only musical they paid to see, such was their respect for it. All other musicals they waited until the audiences were beginning to thin and then they would sneak into the theatre for the second act, sitting in empty seats. (They occasionally were caught, but I suppose that was part of the fun!)
Thank you for the video!
e la
Beautiful!
Sofi 2801
My ship has sails that are made of silk
The decks are trimmed with gold
And of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold
My ship's aglow with a million pearls
And rubies fill each bin;
The sun sits high in a sapphire sky
When my ship comes in
I can wait the years
Till it appears
One fine day one spring
But the pearls and such
They won't mean much
If there's missing just one thing:
I do not care if that day arrives
That dream need never be
If the ship i sing
Doesn't also bring
My own true love to me
petugue
I recommend you the delicious version of this beautiful song performed by Oscar Peterson, in the great movie "Phantom Thread"
nmuphelps1
The one and only!!!
Harry Minot
Ahhh! Thanks for this!
Daniel Melvin
You are very welcome. I am glad you liked it!
Joseph Handford
This was a pinch from Rodgers' and Hart's 'Where's That Rainbow' written in 1926.
Daniel Melvin
In what way? The two songs have nothing in common at all to my ear.