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"
Take My Heart
Greta Keller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She got the keys, what's she gonna do with the keys?
I'm gonna lock my heart and throw away the key
I'm wise to all those tricks you played on me
I'm gonna turn my back on love, gonna snub the moon above
Seal all my windows up with tin so the love bug can't get in
Hang a sign upon my heart, ''Please don't disturb''
And if I never fall in love again that's soon enough for me
I'm gonna lock my heart and throw the key
She's gonna lock her heart and throw away the key
(Gonna lock my heart)
I'm wise to all those tricks you've played on me
She's gonna turn her back on love, gonna snub the moon above
Seal all my windows up with tin so the love bug can't get in
I'm gonna park my romance right alone the curb
Hang a sign upon my heart, "Please don't disturb"
And if I never fall in love again that's soon enough for me
(Don't make it too soon)
I'm gonna lock my heart
(She's gonna lock her heart)
And throw away the key
(She's gonna lock her heart and throw away the key)
In Greta Keller’s song “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key,” the singer is expressing her intentions to protect herself from heartbreak and disappointment by locking her heart and throwing away the key. She has been hurt before and has become wise to the tricks that people play in love. She refuses to let herself be vulnerable and is determined to turn her back on love while sealing off all potential sources of heartbreak.
The singer compares her heart to a car by parking her romance right along the curb and hanging a sign on her heart to warn others to not disturb her. She has made up her mind and is willing to forego the possibility of falling in love again, declaring that “if I never fall in love again that's soon enough for me.” The lyrics convey a sense of determination and a desire for self-protection, but also a possible fear of being hurt again.
Line by Line Meaning
She got the keys, she's got the keys
What is she going to do now that she has the keys?
I'm gonna lock my heart and throw away the key
I'm going to protect myself from being hurt again by closing my heart off to love.
I'm wise to all those tricks you played on me
I have learned from my past mistakes and won't be fooled by your deceptive ways anymore.
I'm gonna turn my back on love, gonna snub the moon above
I am rejecting love and all its associated pain, even if it means ignoring the romantic symbols in the night sky.
Seal all my windows up with tin so the love bug can't get in
I will do everything in my power to keep myself from falling in love again, even if it means completely blocking out any possible source of attraction.
I'm gonna park my romance right alone the curb
I am giving up on any notion of romantic relationships and leaving them behind on the street.
Hang a sign upon my heart, ''Please don't disturb''
I am warning others not to try and pursue a romantic relationship with me, as I am not interested.
And if I never fall in love again that's soon enough for me
I am completely content with the idea of never experiencing romantic love again, as it will save me from any future heartbreak.
She's gonna lock her heart and throw away the key
She is also choosing to guard her heart and avoid any further emotional pain.
Don't make it too soon
She wants to take her time healing and moving on from any past romantic experiences.
She's gonna lock her heart
She is going to be just as guarded and cautious in her approach to love as the singer is.
And throw away the key
She is determined to keep her heart locked away and out of reach of anyone who might try to get close to her romantically.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JIMMY EATON, TERRY SHAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janette Walker
Very enjoyable, thank you.
William Blackadder
Yes she was good! Thanks.