Mercer was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. Her mother was a young, white English music hall performer, and her father was a black American jazz musician whom Mabel never knew. At age fourteen, she left her convent school in Manchester, and toured Britain and Europe with her aunt in vaudeville and music hall engagements.
In 1928, she was an unknown member of the black chorus in the London production of Show Boat, but she had become the toast of Paris by the 1930s, with admirers who included Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter.
When World War II broke out, she traveled to America to sing in the finest supper clubs in New York City. She also made many concert appearances across the U.S. In the late 1960s, she gave two legendary concerts with Bobby Short at Town Hall in New York City. Both were released by Atlantic Records: Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short at Town Hall, in 1968, (Atlantic SD 2-604) and Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short Second Town Hall Concert, in 1969 (Atlantic SD 2-605). In 1969, she made two appearances on the television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Her original and reissued albums are collector's items. Atlantic Records reissued four of her early LPs in a boxed set in 1975, in honor of her 75th birthday. She was awarded Stereo Review Magazine's first Award for Merit, for her lifetime achievement and for "outstanding contributions to the quality of American musical life." This award was officially renamed the Mabel Mercer Award in 1984.
A photograph of Mercer in later life, from the archives of The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
When Mercer returned on 4 July 1977 for her first performance in England in 41 years, the BBC filmed three evenings' performances and later broadcast it in a week-long late-night television program, a BBC first for an entertainer.
In 1978, "Midnight at Mabel Mercer's," her 1956 album on Atlantic, was praised as "one of the best recordings of the past twenty years" by Stereo Review. That same year, Mercer played at San Francisco's Club Mocambo to sold-out audiences, in celebration of her 78th birthday.
So in Love
Mabel Mercer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm close to you, dear
The stars fill the sky
So in love with you am I
Even without you
My arms fold about you
You know, darling, why
In love with the night mysterious
The night when you first were there
In love with my joy delirious
When I knew that you could care
So taunt me and hurt me
Deceive me, desert me
I'm yours 'til I die
So in love
So in love
So in love with you, my love, am I
The lyrics of "So In Love" by Mabel Mercer depict the depths of the love that the singer feels for the person she is addressing. The song covers different aspects of love, including the mysterious allure of the night, the intense joy that comes with reciprocated feelings, and the willingness to tolerate negative emotions and experiences for the sake of love. The first two lines of the song signify the singer's true realization of the connection she feels with her lover, how everything feels more alive and intense when they're nearby. The stars in the sky symbolize the vastness of their love and how it seems to permeate everything around them.
The second verse talks about how the memory of the loved one can be as strong as their presence. In this verse, the singer reveals the depth of her devotion for the person by saying that even without them, her arms still fold around them. The third verse speaks to the effect that the loved one has had on the singer's life. The night when they met was a turning point for her, marked by the mysterious allure that still intrigues her to this day. The joy that comes from knowing that this person cares for her is almost delirious, an overwhelming and gratifying feeling.
The final verse shows how the singer is ready to endure any pain, taunt, and deception that come her way as long as she can have her lover. Despite any negative experiences, her love for this person is unyielding, and she is willing to dedicate her life to them. The chorus repeats the phrase that marks the song's title, emphasizing just how fiercely and profoundly the singer loves the person she is addressing.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange dear, but true, dear
It may seem unusual, but it is a fact that my love for you is real
When I'm close to you, dear
Being near you makes me feel complete and content
The stars fill the sky
My love for you is limitless and expansive as the stars in the sky
So in love with you am I
I am hopelessly and deeply in love with you
Even without you
Even in your absence, my thoughts are consumed with you
My arms fold about you
I long to hold you in my arms and never let go
You know, darling, why
You are fully aware of the reason behind my overwhelming love for you
In love with the night mysterious
The night you entered my life is dearly cherished and has a special place in my heart
The night when you first were there
The moment you appeared in my life is unforgettable and precious to me
In love with my joy delirious
My intense happiness and elation when I realized your feelings for me
When I knew that you could care
The moment I realized that you loved me too
So taunt me and hurt me
Even if you tease or cause me pain, my love for you remains unwavering
Deceive me, desert me
Even if you lie or abandon me, I am committed to you forever
I'm yours 'til I die
My love for you is eternal and will never fade away
So in love
My affections are intense and passionate
So in love
My love for you is unwavering
So in love with you, my love, am I
My love for you is the core of my being and defines my life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Bachman
One of my desert-island discs with the imcomparable pianist Cy Walter!
Perry Weiner
A great anomaly. Of one time and place, only. She was exquisite, and alas, she will be exquisitely forgotten!
johnps30
Perry Weiner I am listening to The Art of Mabel Mercer as I write this; she’s a goddess to singers and everyone who cherishes smart loving interpretations.