Ruth Etting (November 23, 1897 – September 24, 1978) was an American singin… Read Full Bio ↴Ruth Etting (November 23, 1897 – September 24, 1978) was an American singing star and actress of the 1920s and 1930s, who had over sixty hit recordings and worked in stage, radio, and film. She was known as America's Radio Sweetheart, and was the top female vocalist in America for several years, often singing in the 'torch' song style. In 1925, Ruth Etting was discovered by a Columbia record executive in Chicago and was signed to a nation-wide deal. In 1927 she was recommended by Irving Berlin to Florenz Ziegfeld for a spot in his Follies. She was an instant success in New York, and the top vocalist in the country for a number of years.

Ruth was born in David City, Nebraska. Her mother died when she was 5, and her father left her with her grandparents, George and Hannah Etting, who owned a roller mill. Her father remarried and moved away, seldom visiting his daughter. When she was 17 she moved to Chicago to attend art school, and got a job designing costumes at a night club. One night the tenor got sick and since she was the only one who could sing low enough, she took his place, and landed a job in the chorus. By 1918 she was one of the club's featured vocalists. It was there she met Moe "The Gimp" Snyder, a wanna-be gangster who took over management of Ruth's career and married her in 1922.

After her New York sucess, she moved to Los Angeles and had roles in a number of films including Roman Scandals with Eddie Cantor. There are conflicting stories about the scandal that virtually ended her career. The marriage between Ms. Etting and The Gimp was virtually loveless from the beginning, and he was a demanding and controlling manager who would not let other men near his wife. They were divorced in 1937. While in Los Angeles she began spending time with Myrl Alderman, a pianist who had played with her earlier in her career. In 1938, The Gimp forced his way into Ruth's house, and shot Alderman, wounding him. The subsequent trial put a halt to her career, although she did make some appearances in 1947. Ruth and Myrl married and retired to Colorado Springs, where she died in 1978. The academy award nominated movie version of her life story, Love me or Leave Me, with Jimmy Cagney and Doris Day, was apparently highly fictionalized.

Goodnight Sweetheart
Ruth Etting Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn, a new day is born (so I'll say)
Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you
Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
Good night sweetheart, good night

Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn, a new day is born
(so I'll say) Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you

Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
Good night sweetheart, good night

Overall Meaning

The song "Goodnight Sweetheart" by Ruth Etting is a romantic song about saying goodbye to a loved one with the hope of meeting them again tomorrow. The lyrics express that while parting and tears may make one feel forlorn, the promise of a new day arriving with the dawn will bring a sense of renewed optimism. The singer uses the phrase "Good night sweetheart," as a way of expressing their love and devotion to their partner, even in their absence. Despite not being physically beside one another, the singer reassures their love will guide their partner through the night.

The song's message is one of hope and positivity before a temporary farewell, encouraging the listener to be strong in the face of sadness and to hold onto the idea of a better tomorrow. Through the use of romantic language and imagery, the singer creates a sense of intimacy and unity with their partner, even from a distance. Overall, the song has become a classic love ballad that speaks to the enduring themes of love, longing and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
I bid you farewell my dear, until the next time we meet

Good night sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
May you have a restful sleep and let go of all your worries

Tears and parting may make us forlorn
Our separation may cause sadness and tears to well up in our eyes

But with the dawn, a new day is born
But we can find solace in the thought of a new day, a fresh start

(so I'll say) Good night sweetheart, tho' I'm not beside you
(Thus) I say goodnight my love, even though I'm not physically by your side

Good night sweetheart, still my love will guide you
My love will still guide you through the night

Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
May you dream of us being together, and feel my presence next to you

Good night sweetheart, good night
Once again, farewell my love, goodbye

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Campbell, Ray Noble, Reg Connelly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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