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.
It All Depends On You
Ruth Etting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble or I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money or spend it
Go right on living or end it
I know that I can be beggar or I can be king
I can be almostany old thing
It all depends on you
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
Depends on you
I can be very lonely when I'm out with a crowd
I can be humble or I can be proud
Depends on you
I can save a great deal of money or I can spend it
Go right on living end it
You're to blame, baby, for what I do
I can beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
The lyrics to Ruth Etting's song It All Depends On You allude to the idea that the actions and emotions of the singer are entirely dependent on the actions of another person. The lyricist acknowledges that they can be happy, sad, good, or bad, but whether they exhibit those emotions depends solely on the recipient of their affections. The singer concedes that they can be lonely in a crowd or feel proud or humble, yet again their feelings are wholly dependent on the subject of their affection. The singer also admits that their financial situation and their very existence are dependent on the actions and emotions of their lover. Finally, the singer acknowledges that they can be anything the person they love wants them to be.
One interpretation of these lyrics is that the singer is confessing their devotion to their lover. However, it is also possible that the singer is cautioning the listener about the dangers of becoming overly reliant on another person. The latter interpretation is supported by the phrasing, which suggests that the singer is not in control of their own emotions, actions, or even survival, and it is entirely dependent on the actions of the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
I can be happy, I can be sad
My emotions fluctuate depending on your actions and words towards me. If you treat me kindly, I'll be happy. If you don't, I'll be sad.
I can be good or I can be bad
My behavior is influenced by your influence on me. If you guide me to do the right thing, I'll be good. If you influence me negatively, I can be bad.
It all depends on you
The way I feel and behave ultimately depends on your treatment towards me.
I can be lonely out in a crowd
Even with many people around me, I can feel isolated if you're not there with me.
I can be humble or I can be proud
My self-esteem can either be strengthened or undermined by your influence on me. If you give me positive feedback, I'll be humble. If you criticize me, I'll be proud.
I can save money or spend it
My financial decisions depend on your influence on me. If you encourage me to save, I'll do so. If you encourage me to spend, I'll do that instead.
Go right on living or end it
My life is in your hands. You have the power to make me want to keep on living or give up completely.
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
You have a great responsibility for the actions and decisions that I make, as it is ultimately influenced by you.
I know that I can be beggar or I can be king
I am aware that my life can be transformed for the better or worse depending on your treatment towards me.
I can be almost any old thing
My potential is limitless as long as I have your guidance and support.
It all depends on you
My life is heavily influenced by your influence on me. Everything seems pointless and irrelevant without your presence, guidance and support.
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laura Sofia Cadena
Lyrics:
Lovers depend on moonlight
For a love affair
Babies depend on mothers
For their tender care
Flowers depend on sunshine
And the morning dew
Each thing depends on something
And I depend on you
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
๐๐๐๐๐
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you.
SYNNER
Lyrics For my Kitty๐ค
Lovers depend on moonlight
For a love affair
Babies depend on mothers
For their tender care
Flowers depend on sunshine
And the morning dew
Each thing depends on something
And I depend on you
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
................................................
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you.
๐ค๐ค๐ค
Maven
Why don't people have these beautiful voices anymore? This is absolutely fabulous.
ๅคงใใค
I assume because people were used to them at the time, or it was what they considered "good".. Now that would be considered annoying.
T.I.N.D
Dc Krow I like your reply, I gotta use it next time I see a comment saying "Where did it go!?"
Chris 315
The industry and singers today focus mostly on who can sing the highest and do the most vocal gymnastics.
Chris 315
I'm sure they're out there. The industry just has to be brave and put them on the market. It may be a while since everyone's into rap today. Music like this would bring class back to society.
Bagh Nakh
It's because how the music industry changes. As someone said before, today being a "vocal gymnast" is considered being a good singer. To an extent, you could say that (in my personal opinion of course) Freddy Mercury influenced the industry so much that, to this day, most people try to imitate his particular technique when aproaching the art of singing, thats why most singers today feel like they have this Freddy-Mercury-ish voice.
Laura Sofia Cadena
Lyrics:
Lovers depend on moonlight
For a love affair
Babies depend on mothers
For their tender care
Flowers depend on sunshine
And the morning dew
Each thing depends on something
And I depend on you
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
๐๐๐๐๐
I can be happy, I can be sad
I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, honey, for what I do
I know that I can be beggar, I can be king
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you.
bioshock
Thank you
Bobby Wimsy
Laura Sofia Cadena Thank you for the lyrics, greatly appreciated.
โกWAHOOOO!โก
thanks