After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1947. Her early roles were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. She was praised for her comedic ability in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch, and became one of Hollywood's most popular and glamorous performers.
The typecasting of Monroe's "dumb blonde" persona limited her career prospects, so she broadened her range. She studied at the Actors Studio and formed Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her dramatic performance in William Inge's Bus Stop was hailed by critics, and she won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like it Hot.
The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a "probable suicide", the possibility of an accidental overdose has not been ruled out, while conspiracy theorists argue that she was murdered.
In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute.
Marilyn's personal life started at a young age at age of 16 when she firstly married James Dougherty on August 5, 1942 in Brentwood, California.
She divorced Dougherty on May 19, 1946.
After Monroe made How To Marry A Millionaire (1953) in 1953. She met Joe DiMaggio on December 30, 1954 at nightclub in Vegas. They married on January 14, 1954 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
She alleged that DiMaggio raped her on her wedding night. They divorced on August 4, 1954 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Monroe married Arthur Miller on June 4, 1956 in Phoenix, Nevada. They moved to Brentwood, California in early August 1956.
The couple divorced on November 12, 1961 in Los Angeles, California. She was found dead at her home in Brentwood, California after a barbiturate (sleeping pill) overdose on August 5, 1962 when she was age 36.
That Old Black Magic
Marilyn Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That old black magic that you weave so well
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
Same old tingle that I feel inside
And then that elevator starts its ride
Down and down I go
Like a leaf caught in the tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name, and I'm a flame
A flame, of burning desire
That only your kiss, kiss, kiss
Can put out the fire
For your the lover I have waited for
The mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Baby down and down I go, round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' that spin I'm in
Under that old black magic called love
Love, love, love, love.
The song "That Old Black Magic" by Marilyn Monroe is a classic, upbeat jazz tune that speaks of the power of love that can trap us in its spell. The lyrics depict the singer being under the influence of the "old black magic" that her lover, whom she believes is fated for her, has the power to create. The words also portray a feeling of helplessness as the singer admits that she should stay away, but cannot resist the lure of her lover's spell.
The writer uses symbolic language to describe the power of this love, such as the "icy fingers up and down my spine" and the "elevator ride" that the singer experiences when her lover is near. The lyrics also describe the feeling of being caught up in the currents of the ocean, the same way a leaf is caught up in the tide, further emphasizing the singer's sense of being out of control when her lover is around.
The chorus of "That Old Black Magic" repeats the phrase "down and down I go, round and round I go" multiple times, showcasing the dizzying, disorienting effect love can have on someone. The song ends by repeating the idea that the singer is completely under the spell of her lover and in a state of spinning, joyful, yet chaotic love.
Line by Line Meaning
That old black magic has me in its spell
I am completely captivated and under the power of your charming spells
That old black magic that you weave so well
The magic enchantment that you cast on me is so strong and irresistible
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The sensation of chill running through my body as you mesmerize me
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
The familiar mystical power that your gaze has over me when we make eye contact
Same old tingle that I feel inside
The consistent thrilling feeling that I experience from being close to you
And then that elevator starts its ride
The feeling of excitement that builds up inside of me when we are alone together
Down and down I go
I can feel myself losing control and falling deeper for you
Round and round I go
My emotions go in circles as I try to resist your allure
Like a leaf caught in the tide
I am pulled in different directions, helpless to the pull of your magic
I should stay away but what can I do
I know I should keep my distance, but I am not able to resist you
I hear your name, and I'm a flame
Just hearing your name ignites a flame of longing within me
A flame, of burning desire
A passionate desire that I cannot ignore
That only your kiss, kiss, kiss
Only your kiss has the power to quench my burning desire
Can put out the fire
Only your kiss can calm this passion within me
For your the lover I have waited for
You are the perfect match for me that I've been searching for
The mate that fate had me created for
It seems that destiny has brought us together as soulmates
And every time your lips meet mine
Every time we kiss, I lose myself in your spell
Baby down and down I go, round and round I go
I am spiraling deeper and deeper under the control of your old black magic
In a spin, lovin' that spin I'm in
I am dizzy with love and enjoying every moment of it
Under that old black magic called love
My love for you is like a powerful, enchanting spell that I cannot escape
Love, love, love, love.
My heart is bursting with love for you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind