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.
Don't Ever Leave Me
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn't easy to find
Now that I've found him, I wonder just how
I could have lived right up to now
Now I am something completed by you
I am no one, just part of two
Here is where you belong
Everything seems so right when you're near
When you're away it's all wrong
I'm so dependent when I need comfort
I always run to you
Don't ever leave me 'cause if you do
I'll have no one to run to
I'm so dependent when I need comfort
I always run to you
So don't ever leave me 'cause if you do
I'll have no one to run to
Don't ever leave me alone
These lyrics from Margaret Whiting's song "Don't Ever Leave Me" convey a sense of profound love and dependence on another person. The first verse establishes that the singer was created solely for one man and that finding him was not an easy task. The second verse expresses how the singer, now that she has found this man, cannot imagine life without him. She feels completed by him and is no longer just an individual, but part of a pair.
The chorus emphasizes the deep attachment and reliance the singer has on this man. She pleads with him not to leave her, as he is the only person who truly belongs with her and makes her feel complete. The lyrics also suggest a fear of being alone and without the comfort and solace that he provides. The repetition of the line, "I'll have no one to run to" illustrates this dependency and underscores the importance of the man in her life.
Overall, these lyrics speak to the power of love and the intense emotional bond that can develop between two people. It also touches on the fear of losing that connection and the sense of abandonment that could follow.
Line by Line Meaning
I was created for one man alone
I am truly made for only one person
It wasn't easy to find
It was a difficult quest to discover him
Now that I've found him, I wonder just how
I could have lived right up to now
Having found him, I can't imagine how I coped before
Now I am something completed by you
I am no one, just part of two
With you, I am no longer incomplete, but a piece of something greater
Don't ever leave me, now that you're here
Here is where you belong
Since you belong here, stay, and never leave me
Everything seems so right when you're near
When you're away it's all wrong
Things are perfect with you by my side; without you, life is incomplete
I'm so dependent when I need comfort
I always run to you
During difficult situations, I rely solely on your solace
Don't ever leave me 'cause if you do
I'll have no one to run to
If you disappear, I'll have no one to turn to in my time of need
I'm so dependent when I need comfort
I always run to you
During difficult situations, I rely solely on your solace
So don't ever leave me 'cause if you do
I'll have no one to run to
If you disappear, I'll have no one to turn to in my time of need
Don't ever leave me alone
Please never leave me by myself
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jimstokes6742
Love to hear a song's opening verse. It adds to much to the song. Thanks for posting.
@cindyswift1185
I had never heard of this lady before but she sounds wonderful
@Jymster46
Beautiful, Heather! I love the song and her wonderful voice is perfect for it. Love all the photos too. Thank you so much for posting it! Have a wonderful day, my friend.
Jim
@TheSorrowfulFlower
Jymster46 I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jim! I love the song, too. Thanks so much for watching and for your wonderful comments, they made my day! I hope you're having a great day as well, and are keeping warm :))
@firesong83
I was definitely born in the wrong era. God, how I love the music of Jerome Kern.
@trumpsahead
Great find. Until today, I thought this was a relatively modern song (within the last 45 years) newly sung by Carmen Mcrae. Ms Whiting has a beautiful voice but I'm still partial to Ms Mcrae's version. It is nice to know it is somewhat of a Standard ballad tune, my favorite kind of music. Thanks for the enlightenment.
@TheSorrowfulFlower
+trumpsahead I'm glad you enjoyed this version, too! Thanks for watching and commenting :))
@trumpsahead
+TheSorrowfulFlower
I like Ms Whiting's version more each time I visit here. I'm not done with listening to this song - I still can't get over that it was penned in 1929. It just sounds so modern.
@TheSorrowfulFlower
+trumpsahead I agree, it does sound more modern than 1929. I've posted a few other versions of this song, and there may be another one coming.
@collinsy
That unresolved ending -- so unexpected.