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.
Let's Begin
Margaret Whiting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatcha gonna do?
Is it up to me
Or is it up to you?
What kind of game is this that we've begun?
Was it done
just for fun?
Don't forget,
There's no reason for bayin' regret!
Oh, is this to be a case
Of fall and then I fell,
Kiss and never tell,
Folly and farewell?
Which is goin' to be?
Might have been,
Lose or win,
Let's begin,
I'm here to tell ya, let's begin!
Now that you've got me goin',
Whatcha gonna do?
Is it up to me
Or is it up to you?
What kind of game is this that we've begun?
Was it done
just for fun?
No!
Realize
That I'm wise,
And please stop rollin' those big blue eyes!
Is this to be a case
Of fall and then I fell,
Kiss and never tell,
Folly and farewell?
Which is goin' to be?
Might have been,
Let's begin,
Let's begin!
The lyrics of Margaret Whiting's song "Let's Begin" speak of uncertain love and the start of a romantic relationship. The song reflects the excitement and anticipation of a new beginning, while also addressing the insecurity and hesitation that come with it. The opening lines - "Now that you've got me goin', whatcha gonna do?/ Is it up to me or is it up to you?" - indicate that the singer is ready to take the next step in the relationship, but is unsure whether the other person is on the same page. The next line, "What kind of game is this that we've begun?" suggests that the relationship might be a game, but the singer is hopeful that it's not just for fun.
As the song progresses, the lyrics switch from questioning the other person to expressing the singer's own desires. The repetition of "Is this to be a case/ Of fall and then I fell,/ Kiss and never tell,/ Folly and farewell?" expresses the uncertainty of where the relationship is heading. But the singer remains optimistic, repeating the chorus "Let's begin" and affirming that she's ready for whatever comes next.
Overall, the lyrics of "Let's Begin" capture the excitement and nervousness of starting a new relationship, while also acknowledging the uncertainty and potential pitfalls that come with it. The song's upbeat melody and hopeful lyrics make it a classic love song that still resonates with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that you've got me goin',
Now that you have caught my attention and interest,
Whatcha gonna do?
What is your plan or intention?
Is it up to me
Or is it up to you?
Are you waiting for me to make a move or are you taking the lead?
What kind of game is this that we've begun?
What sort of situation have we entered into?
Was it done
just for fun?
Did we start this merely for enjoyment or amusement?
Don't forget,
Since we met,
There's no reason for bayin' regret!
Remember, now that we have met, there is no point in feeling remorseful.
Oh, is this to be a case
Of fall and then I fell,
Kiss and never tell,
Folly and farewell?
Is this going to be a situation where we fall for each other but then pretend as if it never happened?
Which is goin' to be?
Might have been,
Lose or win,
Let's begin,
Which of the two possibilities will happen? It may have been a loss or a win, but let's start anyway.
I'm here to tell ya, let's begin!
I am ready to start this relationship.
No!
A firm refusal to a proposed idea.
Realize
That I'm wise,
And please stop rollin' those big blue eyes!
Acknowledge that I am wise and experienced, and please stop making exaggerated facial expressions.
Let's begin!
Let's start this relationship without any further delay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OTTO HARBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind