Who Would Ever Think That I Would Marry Margaret

Song Meaning

The lyrics open on a scene of nervous anticipation, with the narrator "pacin' in the parlor" in his tuxedo, awaiting a taxi to his wedding. There's a charming blend of the mundane, like paying "a dollar" for the ride, and the profound commitment of promising Margaret he'd be in the chapel by a specific time. The central emotional current running through these lyrics is one of genuine, almost disbelieving, surprise. The narrator repeatedly questions, "Who would ever think that I would marry Margaret?" This isn't just about his own unexpected journey to the altar, but also acknowledges the mutual wonder, adding, "Who would ever think that she would marry me?" This sense of the unexpected is powerfully crystallized in the recurring metaphor of "the flower that grows Up through a crack in the street." It suggests beauty and life emerging from an improbable, perhaps even overlooked, place. This image perfectly mirrors the narrator's own transformation, as he finds himself "caught With flowers and shaky knees," a state he clearly never anticipated. The lyrics are effective in their grounded portrayal of love's surprising arrival. Details like Margaret "Talkin' with her mother, fixing daddy's bow tie" paint a vivid, relatable picture, while the simple phrase "She got somethin' about her Turned this head of mine" conveys a profound shift. The blend of everyday reality with the extraordinary emotional impact makes the narrator's newfound joy and vulnerability feel deeply authentic.