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.
March Winds And April Showers
Ruth Etting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make way for sweet May flowers
And then comes June, a moon, and you
March winds and April showers
Romance will soon be ours
An outdoor paradise for two
I like every month in the year
Summer, winter, and fall
It only blossoms in Spring
March winds and April showers
Make way for sweet May flowers
And then comes June, a moon, and you
March winds and April showers
Romance will soon be ours
An outdoor paradise for two
Oh, with your lips to mine
In a thrill, divine
I′ll be so inspired
That I'll get you the moon for a toy balloon
March winds and April showers
Make way for sweet May flowers
And May-time, June-time, love-time and you
With your lips to mine
In a thrill, divine
I′ll be so inspired
That I'll get you the moon for a toy balloon
March winds and April showers
Make way for sweet May flowers
And May-time
Oh, June-time
Oh, love-time and you
The song “March Winds And April Showers” by Ruth Etting, talks about the arrival of spring and the season of love. It’s a song that highlights how the weather patterns of March and April prepare us for the coming of May, which in turn, leads to the emergence of summer romance. The lyrics evoke images of springtime, with beautiful flowers sprouting and the tender love that blooms. It expresses the sentiment that love, much like nature, has a seasonality to it and can only flourish in the warmer months of the year.
Etting suggests that spring is a magical time of year, specifically mentioning May and June. In singing about May and June, she emphasises the idea of love and romance, which is signified by the moon - a classic symbol of love. The song asks us to imagine the paradise of two people in love enjoying the beautiful outdoor scenery, accompanied by sweet May flowers. The lyrics speak of passion and a desire to be with someone special, and emphasize the powerful emotional connection between two people in love.
Overall, the song offers a romantic vision of springtime, capturing the essence of new beginnings, growth, and renewal. It reminds us that love can be like the wind, blowing us in unpredictable directions, and that we should embrace the season and enjoy it while it lasts.
Line by Line Meaning
March winds and April showers
The noticeable strong winds in March and the rain showers in April signal the start of Spring.
Make way for sweet May flowers
With the arrival of Spring comes the blooming of beautiful flowers in May.
And then comes June, a moon, and you
With Summer comes the promise of a romantic rendezvous in June under the moonlight and with the presence of a loved one.
Romance will soon be ours
The arrival of Spring brings the promise of love and romance.
An outdoor paradise for two
The beauty of nature in Spring provides a perfect setting for a romantic outdoor date with a partner.
I like every month in the year
The singer enjoys every month of the year.
Summer, winter, and fall
The singer enjoys all four seasons of the year.
But love is the tenderest thing
Despite enjoying all seasons, the artist acknowledges that love is the most delicate feeling.
It only blossoms in Spring
The artist believes that love only flourishes and blossoms in Spring.
Oh, with your lips to mine
The artist desires a passionate kiss with their lover.
In a thrill, divine
A kiss shared with a loved one generates a thrilling and divine feeling in the singer.
I'll be so inspired
The artist will feel highly motivated and stimulated by the passionate kiss.
That I'll get you the moon for a toy balloon
The singer wants to do anything and everything to please their loved one, even if it means fulfilling an impossible dream.
And May-time, June-time, love-time and you
May and June are the months of love and romance for the singer, thanks to the presence of their loved one.
Writer(s): Whitcup, Powell, Matthew Jehu Samuels
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@henridelagardere264
In less illiterate times, sayings, proverbs and expressions served a social function that was not to be underestimated. They provided kind of a lingua franca that connected people sharing a collective memory or by way of, let's say, grandma's memorable rockin' chair tales even had an intergenerational effect. You could play your Harlem Hot Shots disc feat. vernally enthused Wingy and his fair maiden named Nappy, and everyone instantly started reminiscing and humming, singing along. I have to admit, however, that Ruth makes for a considerably more convincing maiden, albeit the fact that at the time of this recording she was no spring chicken either, but maybe it's up to the more seasoned contemporaries to fully appreciate the levity and fancy clarity of spring.
@Trombonology
I adore this cheery number, to herald the arrival of the season of rebirth with a familiar old phrase. My favorite version is the romping Wingy Manone record, but I do like Ruthie's, too, for its movie production number quality.
@jadedjester6
I haven’t heard this in forever
@VolYn_IRL
well, you do now.
@Bigbadwhitecracker
Ruth Etting or Doris Day as Ruth Etting? (Love me or Leave me - one of my favorite films and I wore out the soundtrack 40 years ago).
@ladycavalier
I've only ever heard the remixed version of this!! I listen to that so often. It was so cool seeing this recommended to me. Thanks!
@brians78s94
the remix is of the teddy joyce version
@the78prof72
Glad you like it!
@kadetsfromtno
time to make a vault door
@titanproductions19
ProletR has an interesting version of this