Born in Kirksville, Missouri and nicknamed "Rusty" for his red hair, he began performing on his uncle's radio show in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the mid 1930s. Draper moved on to work at radio stations in Des Moines, Iowa—sometimes filling in for sports announcer Ronald Reagan—and in Illinois before settling in California. There he began to sing in local clubs, becoming resident singer at the Rumpus Room in San Francisco. By the early 1950s he had begun appearing on national TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) and Ozark Jubilee (ABC).
In 1952, Draper signed to Mercury Records and issued his debut single, "How Could You (Blue Eyes)". The following year, after a national club tour, his cover version of Jim Lowe's "Gambler's Guitar” made #6 on both the country and pop charts, and sold a million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] After a series of less successful follow-ups, he made the national charts again in 1955 with "Seventeen" (#18), "The Shifting, Whispering Sands" (#3) and "Are You Satisfied?" (#11), becoming one of the biggest pop and country crossover stars of the period.
In 1956, he returned to the top 20 with "In The Middle Of The House" (#20), followed up by his version of Chas McDevitt’s UK skiffle hit "Freight Train" (#3) Draper also reached the UK Singles Chart with a rendition of "Muleskinner Blues."
In 1962, he left Mercury to sign with Monument Records, with diminishing chart success as his style became more old-fashioned. However, he continued to have minor hits in the country charts through the 1960s. He remained a steady concert draw in years to follow, and also appeared in stage musicals and on television. Draper died in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 80.
Embraceable You
Rusty Draper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me,
You and you alone
Bring out the gypsy in me!
Above all, I want my arms about you!
Don't be a naughty baby,
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
My sweet embraceable you!
The song Embraceable You by Rusty Draper is a classic love ballad. The lyrics showcase a strong desire for the embrace of a loved one. The singer is calling out to their significant other to come to them, to embrace them in their arms. The first two lines of the song express this desire beautifully - "Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!"
The singer seems to be smitten by their lover, as even just a look from them is enough to make their heart "tipsy." The lyrics "You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me!" have a sense of passion and intimacy attached to them. The singer is irresistibly drawn to the charms of their lover, and yearns to have their arms wrapped around them.
The lyrics also have some playful moments, with the singer playfully urging their lover to come to them. The lines "Don't be a naughty baby, come to papa, come to papa, do!" show a lighter side to the song, and adds a touch of humor to the otherwise serious theme of the song. Overall, the song conveys a strong romantic message, and the lyrics add depth and meaning to this classic love ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you!
Hold me tightly, my dear and lovable companion!
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Wrap your arms around me, you unique and incomparable person!
Just one look at you
Seeing you once is all it took
My heart grew tipsy in me,
My heart became dizzy with joy,
You and you alone
Only you,
Bring out the gypsy in me!
Ignite in me a spirit of wandering and adventure!
I love all, the many charms about you!
I adore every delightful quality that you possess!
Above all, I want my arms about you!
More than anything, I desire to hold you in my embrace!
Don't be a naughty baby,
Don't be mischievous,
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
Come close to me, my beloved child!
My sweet embraceable you!
You are my delightful and lovable person whom I cherish to hold!
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind