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 Wonderful Guy
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as normal as blueberry pie.
No more a smart little girl with no heart,
I have found me a wonderful guy!
I am in a conventional dither,
With a conventional star in my eye.
And you will note there's a lump in my throat
When I speak of that wonderful guy!
A cliche coming true!
I'm bromidic and bright as a moon happy night
Pouring light on the dew!
I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
High as a flag on the Fourth of July!
If you'll excuse an expression I use,
I'm in love, I'm in love,
I'm in love, I'm in love,
I'm in love with a wonderful guy!
The song A Wonderful Guy by Margaret Whiting, from the musical "South Pacific," is an ode to love, particularly to the wonders of finding someone to love. The lyrics are full of metaphors, similes, and imagery that help paint a picture of the singer's newfound happiness. She compares herself to Kansas in August, which is hot and corny, and to blueberry pie, which is sweet and ordinary. She then contrasts her former self as a smart little girl with no heart to her current state of bliss after finding someone special.
The singer is in a "conventional dither," caught up in the traditional love story with stars in her eyes as she discusses her wonderful guy. The lump in her throat indicates emotional vulnerability and sincerity in her feelings. Despite being full of cliches, she embraces them wholeheartedly, saying that she's "trite and gay as a daisy in May" and as predictable as a moonlit night that pours light on the dew. As corny as she may be, she is happy in love and proud of it.
Overall, the song A Wonderful Guy celebrates the joy of falling in love and finding someone to share your life with. The lyrics use conventional metaphors to convey the singer's happiness, and the tone is light and carefree, expressing the giddiness of new love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
I am cheesy and unoriginal, like the state of Kansas during the hottest month of the year.
I'm as normal as blueberry pie.
I am just like everyone else, as unremarkable as a pie made of blueberries.
No more a smart little girl with no heart,
I am no longer the clever, but emotionally distant girl I used to be.
I have found me a wonderful guy!
I have found a man who is truly amazing and makes me incredibly happy.
I am in a conventional dither,
I am experiencing a typical frenzy of excitement and nerves.
With a conventional star in my eye.
I have stars in my eyes, like any other girl in love.
And you will note there's a lump in my throat
You can hear the emotion in my voice, as I am overwhelmed with love for him.
When I speak of that wonderful guy!
Whenever I talk about him, I can't help but gush about how amazing he is.
I'm as trite and as gay as a daisy in May,
I am ordinary and carefree, like a daisy blooming in the Spring.
A cliche coming true!
This love affair is so perfect, it could be the plot of a romantic movie.
I'm bromidic and bright as a moon happy night
I am unsophisticated but joyful, like a happy moonlit evening.
Pouring light on the dew!
I am enhancing the beauty of everything around me, just like dew reflects light.
I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
I am still cheesy and unoriginal.
High as a flag on the Fourth of July!
I am as festive and patriotic as a flag on Independence Day.
If you'll excuse an expression I use,
Pardon my outdated and uncool language.
I'm in love, I'm in love,
I am deeply, passionately in love.
I'm in love, I'm in love,
I am very much in love.
I'm in love with a wonderful guy!
I have fallen for an amazing man and my heart is filled with joy.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind