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.
Take My Heart
Ruth Etting Lyrics
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It haunted me from the start
Something inside of me started a symphony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
'Twas like a breath of spring, heard a robin sing
About a nest set apart
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Your eyes made skies blue again
What else could I do again
Keep repeating through again
"I love you, love you"
I still recall the thrill, guess I always will
I hope 'twill never depart
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Your eyes made skies blue again
What else could I do again?
Keep repeating through again
"I love you, I do love you"
I still recall the thrill, I guess that I always will
I hope 'twill never depart
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
The lyrics of Ruth Etting's song, "Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart" describes the experience of falling in love, experiencing a symphony of emotions and feelings that inspire a profound appreciation for nature and life. The song's metaphorical language celebrates the power of love to inspire creativity and brings about a sense of emotional connection to the world around us.
The singer hears a melody when her lover smiles at her, and she is filled with a sense of longing and desire as the melody haunts her. The music affects her on a deep emotional level, inspiring a symphony within her that is both beautiful and powerful, represented by the strings of her heart that zing with love. The singer describes the feeling like the onset of spring, sending nature into perfect harmony. She reflects on the thrill of the experience and how it will stay with her forever, a testament to love's enduring power.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody
When I saw you smile, I felt a surge of emotion and happiness.
It haunted me from the start
From that moment on, your melody was stuck in my head and I couldn't stop thinking about you.
Something inside of me started a symphony
Your melody sparked a creative and emotional response within me that I couldn't ignore.
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Your melody resonated deeply with me, filling me with joy and passion.
'Twas like a breath of spring, heard a robin sing
Your melody was like a refreshing burst of new life, as though I had just heard a bird singing in the springtime.
About a nest set apart
Your melody spoke to me about a unique and special place where love can thrive.
All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony
Your melody made me feel as though all of nature was in balance and at peace.
Your eyes made skies blue again
Your presence and love made my world brighter and more beautiful, like a clear blue sky after a storm.
What else could I do again
In light of your love, there was nothing else for me to do but to express my own love for you.
Keep repeating through again
I couldn't help but keep saying how much I loved you, as it was the only way to express the depth of my feelings.
"I love you, love you"
I loved you more than words could express and repeated my love for you over and over again.
I still recall the thrill, guess I always will
Even now, I remember the excitement and joy I felt at the thought of being with you, and I know I always will.
I hope 'twill never depart
I cherish the memories of our love and hope that they will stay with me forever.
Zing! Went the strings of my heart
Once again, the memory of your melody fills me with happiness and passion, as though the strings of my heart still vibrate with the sound of your love.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: James F. Hanley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind