Her musical talent may have been inherited; her father Richard Whiting, was a famous composer of popular songs. She also had an aunt, Margaret Young, who was also a singer and popular recording artist in the 1920s. In her childhood her singing ability was already noticed, and at the age of only seven she sang for singer-lyricist Johnny Mercer, with whom her father had worked on some popular songs. In 1942, Mercer started Capitol Records with two partners, and signed her as one of their earliest recording artists.
Until the mid-1950s, she continued to record for Capitol, but as she ceased to record songs that charted as hits, switched to Dot Records in 1958 and to Verve Records in 1960. She came back to Capitol in the mid-1960s, then went to London Records in 1966. On London, Whiting landed one last major hit single in 1966, "The Wheel Of Hurt," which hit #1 on the Easy Listening singles chart.
She continued to sing into the 1990s.
During the 1950s, she was married to record executive Lou Busch, who also recorded semi-anonymously as the ragtime pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr. They had one daughter. Her late-life marriage to younger gay porn star Jack Wrangler raised many eyebrows. When they first began dating, he protested, "But I'm gay!" to which she replied, "Only around the edges, dear."
She died on January 10, 2011 at the age of eighty-six.
A Tree in the Meadow
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a stream drifting by
And carved upon that tree I see
"I love you till I die"
I will always remember
The love in your eye
The day you carved upon that tree
"I love you till I die"
A silhouette I see
I know you're kissing someone else
I wish that it were me
By that tree in the meadow
My thoughts always lie
And wherever you go, you'll always know
I love you till I die
The lyrics of Margaret Whiting's song A Tree in the Meadow is a reflective piece about the permanence of love and the sadness of unrequited affection. The song opens with Whiting describing a picturesque scene of a tree standing by a gentle stream. This scenery is then personalized as she divulges how it has sentimental value to her as it bears an inscription of "I love you till I die." Throughout the song, this tree symbolizes a happy past, a love that once existed and is fully immortalized in the bark. But the joyful memories of carving those words on the tree are soon overshadowed when the singer spots a silhouette of her lover kissing someone else. She is now painfully aware that her love is unrequited, and she can only gaze wistfully at that tree where her love was peaking. The line, "And wherever you go, you'll always know I love you till I die," is a poignant expression of her enduring love, even in the face of rejection.
The lyrics highlight the enduring nature of memory and love, with the tree serving as a tangible representation of everlasting love. It also touches on the hurt and pain that unrequited love can bring. This song is a beloved classic that captures emotions that many people can relate to, whether experiencing unrequited love, heartbreak or just reflecting on a lost love. The somber tone of the song that underscores its acceptance of the finality of the situation coupled with the persistent expression of love to the loved one is touching.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a tree in the meadow
In the meadow, there is a tree standing tall.
With a stream drifting by
Flowing adjacent to the tree, there is a stream.
And carved upon that tree I see
As I glance at the tree, I can see carving on it.
"I love you till I die"
The carving on the tree is a message of affection - 'I love you till I die.'
I will always remember
I will never forget.
The love in your eye
I recollect the intense love I saw in your eyes.
The day you carved upon that tree
That special moment when you made the carving on the tree.
"I love you till I die"
The message on the tree reads 'I love you till I die.'
But further on down lovers' lane
While moving along lovers' lane further ahead.
A silhouette I see
I sight a vague outline in the hazy distance.
I know you're kissing someone else
I'm sure that you're romancing and smooching with someone new
I wish that it were me
I wish I was the one you were kissing.
By that tree in the meadow
Near that tree in the meadow.
My thoughts always lie
My mind hovers around that place.
And wherever you go, you'll always know
No matter where you go and what you do
I love you till I die
I will love you forever.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markherron1407
Happy Birthday to Margaret Whiting REST IN POWER Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
@TheDiannel
What a beautiful song with a beautiful story
@THETELEKINREVOLUTION
I'm just hearing this song right now for the first time.
It's very nice.
@khussein6409
NICE!
@jhanson1013
I have vivid memories of playing this 78 over and over when I found the record in my mom's stash. back in the days when I was a pre-teen
@edgraf9720
Heard this as a ten year old boy and it’s haunting refrain still resonates
@sammott8557
I'm writing a narrative nonfiction book, and in my research for it, I found out that someone sang this song to my character (back in May 1949). Not knowing the song, I'm here to listen to it. Beautiful!
@Nunofurdambiznez
Doesn't get much better than that, folks.. never! Absolutely beautiful.
@kathleenbonner4146
as pretty a song that ever was, just as i remember it in 1948, #1 on the hit parade for many weeks. maggie sang it like a teenage girl would. daughter of richard whiting, famous song writer. i chatted a bit with maggie at a bing crosby celebration about 2002 in Long Island and still have her autograph. it "might as well be spring" was another great song by maggie. pat bonner
@mariagenerosareyes8589
Love this beautiful song --- so nostalgic