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.
Stay as Sweet as You Are
Ruth Etting Lyrics
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Through years of endless springs,
The murmur of a brook at evening tides.
That ripples through a nook where two lovers hide.
That great symphonic theme,
That's Stella by starlight,
And not a dream,
Shes everything on this earth to me.
That great symphonic theme,
That's Stella by starlight,
And not a dream,
My heart and I agree,
Shes everything on this earth to me.
The lyrics of Ruth Etting's song "Stay as Sweet as You Are" convey a deep sense of adoration and love for someone special in the singer's life. The song begins by comparing the essence of the person to the joyful and melodic singing of a robin, symbolizing the happiness they bring. It also compares their presence to the gentle murmuring of a brook, evoking a sense of tranquility and intimacy.
The lyrics further describe a hidden nook where lovers hide, suggesting a secret and private place where the singer and the person they admire find solace and escape from the world. This nook represents a space where they can truly be themselves and express their love freely.
The chorus of the song introduces the metaphor of "Stella by starlight," referring to the person as a celestial being, as magnificent and awe-inspiring as the stars at night. The singer acknowledges that this person is not just a figment of their imagination, but a real and tangible presence in their life. The lyrics express a profound agreement between the heart and the mind that this person is everything to the singer, making them feel complete and cherished.
Overall, "Stay as Sweet as You Are" speaks of a deep and unwavering love, expressing the enchantment and admiration the singer feels towards a special someone who brings joy, peace, and completeness to their life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mack Gordon, Harry Revel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind