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.
Dearly Beloved
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was meant for you, you were meant for me.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
Angel eyes knew you, angel voices led me to you;
Nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign;
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine;
So I say merely, dearly beloved be mine.
The lyrics to Margaret Whiting's song Dearly Beloved are a declaration of love between two individuals who believe they were meant to be together. The singer pleads with their beloved to agree that they were destined to be with each other. The line "I was meant for you, you were meant for me" reinforces the idea that the two were fated to find each other. The title of the song, "Dearly Beloved," is a term of endearment commonly used in weddings and reinforces the idea that the two individuals are deeply committed to each other.
The singer goes on to express their belief that their beloved was created specifically for them by a higher power. They see a divine purpose for their love, as if it was "somewhere in Heaven" that the two were "fashioned for each other." The imagery of "angel eyes" and "angel voices" adds a heavenly, mystical quality to the song, as if the two were brought together by fate or divine providence.
In the end, the singer makes a simple request, asking their beloved to be theirs, come rain or shine. The lyrics are a testament to the power of love and the belief that some things are truly meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me that it's true, tell me you agree,
Please affirm the authenticity of our connection and confirm our mutual love.
I was meant for you, you were meant for me.
Our destiny is intertwined, as if it was pre-ordained that we would find and love each other.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
My love for you is so strong that I can visualize our future together with utmost clarity and conviction.
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
I believe that you were created for me by some divine power, as we are a perfect match for each other.
Angel eyes knew you, angel voices led me to you;
The purity and beauty of your soul attracted the attention of heavenly beings who guided me to you, my beloved.
Nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign;
I was powerless to resist the force of destiny, which conspired to bring us together in love.
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine;
No matter what obstacles we may face, I have faith that our love is strong enough to endure and survive.
So I say merely, dearly beloved be mine.
With all my heart and soul, I ask you to be my beloved for eternity, as I cannot imagine life without you by my side.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, JOHN H. MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HFritzson
As good as it gets. I wish more people knew of her.
Allen Murray
She could make any song sound good. Fantastic singer and a fine song.
Premier Flutes
Lovely, great quality recording too.
Leony Lexmana
Tell me that it's true, tell me you agree,
I was meant for you, you were meant for me.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
Angel eyes knew you, angel voices led me to you;
Nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign;
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine;
So I say merely, dearly beloved be mine.
Richard Rayner
My mum used to sing this to me as a child - c'55
Jimmy Lohman
This recording is actually from 1960 -- not the 40's.
Howard Herrnstadt
Thank you for that info. Makes sense. In the 1940s she was still being schooled by Johnny Mercer at Columbia Records. She was new to studios back then. Here she sounds mature, at her peak, and interpreting freely.
Piña Gótica
Wait... this is not Kingdom Hearts.