Born Margaretha Keller, she studied dance from the age of 8 followed by acting classes. Her début was in "Pavillon" in Vienna. She also appeared on Stage with Marlene Dietrich in "Broadway", in which she sang and danced. A recording contract with Ultraphon in 1929 her singing took her from Vienna to Prague and Berlin, where she had a big success with Peter Igelhoff and Peter Kreuder. For over 45 years, through a life of triumphs and tragedies, her voice a legend-in radio shows, films, revues, concerts and musicals, but above all her records circled the globe. First called 'The Great Lady Of Chanson' in her native Vienna, it followed her to London and America.
Career
Her lieder voice carried the charm of the Parisian women but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna. Greta's singing in what some call "a style reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich" comes from the fact she was the model for how Marlene Dietrich developed her own voice. Greta Keller made recordings throughout the world and from the earliest days of "schellack" to the dawn of CDs. She spent many years in the United States, notably in hotel club rooms at the Waldorf and (later) the Stanhope in New York, where her show always included "My Way", composed by Paul Anka, and a number of Noel Coward numbers. A 'singer's singer', Keller often drew other performers to the room, including the Nordstrom Sisters, Beverly Sills and Hildegarde. Other regulars would book the same table most nights that she was performing which included photographer Edgar de Evia. Favorites of the Stanhope crowd were the songs of Cole Porter and Noel Coward, for their sexual innuendo and double entendres. These included "Miss Otis Regrets" and "I'm the Other Woman in His Life" by her close friend Elisse Boyd. She regularly returned to Vienna. The poet and singer Rod McKuen was introduced by her to an audience in Vienna. McKuen, in turn ,hosted a concert presenting her at Lincoln Center in the 1970s, and wrote the lyric "If You Go Away" to Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas", which she always sang.
Greta's greatest strength was in her adaptability. Each song, took the caress in her voice in a unique way. Her repertoire included songs from the 1930s through the war years as well as popular songs of the day. A few years before her death, her voice appeared in the Academy Award-winning movie, Cabaret (1972), for which she sang the song, "Heirat" (Married). The last years of her life, from 1973 to her death in November 1977 Greta lived, worked, and traveled with the last great love of her life, Wolfgang Nebmaier, who now lives in Southern Oregon.
Filmography
• Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht, Der (1931) (uncredited) .... Singer... aka Jim, der Mann mit der Narbe (Germany)... aka Looking for His Murderer
• Lied vom Leben, Das (1931) .... Singer... aka Song of Life (USA: informal literal English title)
• Melodie der Liebe (1932) .... Singer... aka Right to Happiness (USA)
• Abenteurer von Paris, Der (1936) .... Cabaret Singer... aka The Paris Adventure (USA)
• Reunion in France (1942) (uncredited) .... Baroness von Steinkamp... aka Mademoiselle France (UK)... aka Reunion
• Herz spielt falsch, Ein (1953) .... Chansonniere/Cabaret Singer ... aka A Heart's Foul Play (International: English title)
• Blaue Stunde (1967) .... Singer
• Cabaret (1972) her voice was heard on a record as the singer of: "Heirat"
If I Had You
Greta Keller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you
I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
The lyrics of Greta Keller's song "If I Had You" express a strong desire for the presence and companionship of another person in order to achieve happiness and fulfillment in life. The singer of the song believes that having the love and support of this person would give them the strength and courage to conquer any obstacle and live life to the fullest.
The lyrics use several metaphors to describe the transformative power of love. For example, the line "I could change the grey skies to blues" suggests that the love of another person can brighten up even the darkest of days. Similarly, the lines "I could climb the snow-capped mountains/Sail the mighty ocean wide/I could cross the burning desert" imply that the singer would be willing to face any challenge as long as they had their beloved by their side.
The last lines of the song, "There is nothing I couldn't do/If I had you," emphasize the profound impact that love can have on one's life. The singer believes that their love for this person would give them the strength to achieve anything they set their mind to, and that with their support, there are no limits to what they can accomplish.
Overall, "If I Had You" is a beautiful expression of the transformative power of love and the deep human longing to find happiness and fulfillment in the company of another person.
Line by Line Meaning
I could show the world how to smile
With you by my side, I could spread joy and happiness everywhere I go and teach people how to smile.
I could be glad all of the while
My life would be filled with constant joy and contentment if I had you in it.
I could change the grey skies to blues
With your love and companionship, even the darkest of times would seem bright and full of hope.
If I had you
This phrase is repeated throughout the song as a constant reminder of the artist's yearning for the person they are singing about.
I could leave the old days behind
With you, I could finally let go of my past and start anew with a fresh outlook on life.
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
The singer is willing to sacrifice their current social circle if it means they get to be with the person they desire.
I could start my life all a new
With the person they love, the singer feels that they can begin a new chapter in life and move on from their past.
I could climb the snow-capped mountains
The artist feels that nothing is impossible with the support and love of their partner and they could achieve even the most difficult feats like climbing snow-capped mountains.
Sail the mighty ocean wide
The artist has the confidence that they can traverse the vastness of the ocean if they have the love of their partner to guide them.
I could cross the burning desert
The artist feels that even the most challenging and harsh terrains like a scorching desert, can be conquered with the presence of their loved one.
If I had you by my side
This phrase is also repeated frequently throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of the person the singer desires to have by their side.
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
With the love and support of their partner, the artist feels that they have the confidence to become anything they want to be, even a king.
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
The singer feels that their partner's love is not limited by social status or wealth, and that they would love them equally regardless of their circumstances.
There is nothing I couldn't do
Through the eyes of the singer, with their loved one by their side, they feel invincible and capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GORDON MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind