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"
Time On My Hands
Greta Keller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The moon is my light of love
In the night, I am quite a romancer
I find an answer above
To being me consolation, you're my inspiration
This is my imagination.
Time on my hands, you in my arms
Once and for all, I'll see my dreams come true
Moments to spare for someone you care for
Our love affair for two
With time on my hands and you in my arms
And love in my heart all for you.
The lyrics to Greta Keller's song "Time On My Hands" encapsulate the essence of a romantic's imagination. The song starts with the setting of twilight, and the romanticizing of the moon to serve as the light of love. The singer reveals that in the night, she becomes a romancer and finds an answer above for her consolation - her inspiration. This is an indication of the singer's inclination to seek refuge in her imagination where she finds comfort, solace, and answers. The lines "Time on my hands, you in my arms, nothing but love in view, then you fall, once and for all, I'll see my dreams come true" appear to be the manifestation of the singer's imagination and dreams materializing. She portrays the powerful feeling of love and how it can make someone's dream become a reality.
In the second paragraph, the singer acknowledges the moments that she has left spare for someone she loves and how she carries on a love affair for two. She explains that she has the time, and the person she's in love with is in her arms, and the love she has for this person fills her heart. In summary, the song is all about love and the power of imagination to bring forth dreams and answer life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day fades away into twilight
As the day turns into night, I am reminded of our love
The moon is my light of love
I find comfort and guidance in the glow of the moon, as I do in our love
In the night, I am quite a romancer
During the darkness of the night, I am a passionate and devoted lover
I find an answer above
I turn to a higher power for guidance on our love
To being me consolation, you're my inspiration
You provide me with comfort in times of trouble, and inspire me to be a better person
This is my imagination.
All of the love and passion I feel for you is my own imagination, but it is real to me
Time on my hands, you in my arms
With free time and you by my side, I have everything I could ever want
Nothing but love in view, then you fall
All I can see and feel is our love, which consumes me completely
Once and for all, I'll see my dreams come true
I am determined to make our love last forever and achieve all of my hopes and dreams with you
Moments to spare for someone you care for
I am willing to give up my time for someone I love and care for deeply
Our love affair for two
Our relationship is a private and intimate love affair between just the two of us
With time on my hands and you in my arms
I have the luxury of free time to spend with you and hold you close
And love in my heart all for you.
My heart overflows with love for you, and you are the only one I want to share it with
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind