''She got the word''/lyrics/songs

[Rachel Adams]

Hello
What does the phrase 'she got the word' and 'stumblin' in exactly mean? Is the apostrophe used instead of 'g' in 'stumblin'?

''Sally called, when she got the word''.
''Stumblin' in''.

 

[GoesStation]

"When she got the word" = when she was told about it.

Stumblin' represents how Americans usually pronounce "stumbling".

 

[Yankee]

"Stumbling", usually pronounced "stumblin" in casual conversation means to walk unsteadily or to trip over an object while walking or, entering an area/building/room (stumblin' in").

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"When she got the word" = when she was told about it.

Stumblin' represents how Americans usually pronounce "stumbling".

Ow! Don't you think that "usually" might be a little strong? . . .

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"Stumbling", usually pronounced "stumblin" in casual conversation . . . .

See #4. I'd whole-heartedly support "often."

 

[GoesStation]

Ow! Don't you think that "usually" might be a little strong? . . .

See #4. I'd whole-heartedly support "often."

Yes, I agree. Many, if not most Americans, say /in/ or /In/ instead of /iŋ/. But not all speakers, and not always.

 

[jutfrank]

It's a very common feature of British English too.

I once read an interesting article about this in a sociolinguistics journal discussing some research that found that pronouncing -ing as -in' was significantly associated with males. That is, it's more likely for a man to use it than a woman.

Unfortunately, I can't find a link to the study. If anyone can, I'd be much obliged.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

And in New York on Long Island, lots of people pronounce -ing with a hard G. They call it Long Island is Long Gisland (as they go stumbling gall over the street.)

 

[Rachel Adams]

"When she got the word" = when she was told about it.

Stumblin' represents how Americans usually pronounce "stumbling".

According to the Russian translation of the song 'stumbling in' means 'by chance' or even 'by mistake'. Is it an accurate translation?

 

[GoesStation]

According to the Russian translation of the song 'stumbling in' means 'by chance' or even 'by mistake'. Is it an accurate translation?

That's possible. There's not enough context in the posted excerpt to know.

 

[Rachel Adams]

That's possible. There's not enough context in the posted excerpt to know.

It's from the song 'Stumblin' in' By Smokie.
''Our love is alive and so we beginFoolishly layin' our hearts on the table
Stumblin' in
Our love is a flame burnin' within
Now and then fire light will catch us
Stumblin' in''

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

According to the Russian translation of the song 'stumbling in' means 'by chance' or even 'by mistake'. Is it an accurate translation?

No. That is not what stumbling in means.

The translator is confusing it with stumbling on or or stumbling across or stumbling upon, which all mean finding accidentally.

Stumbling on or across or upon is figurative. Imagine tripping over something you hadn't seen and saying, "Hey, look what I just found!" Examples:

- I was reading a collection of poetry and stumbled across a wonderful writer I'd never heard of.
- She was planning to become a cop until she stumbled upon an ad for a scrimshaw class.
- It was while cleaning his laboratory that he stumbled on a possible cure for hangnail.

 

[Rachel Adams]

No. That is not what stumbling in means.

The translator is confusing it with stumbling on or or stumbling across or stumbling upon, which all mean finding accidentally.

Stumbling on or across or upon is figurative. Imagine tripping over something you hadn't seen and saying, "Hey, look what I just found!" Examples:

- I was reading a collection of poetry and stumbled across a wonderful writer I'd never heard of.
- She was planning to become a cop until she stumbled upon an ad for a scrimshaw class.
- It was while cleaning his laboratory that he stumbled on a possible cure for hangnail.

So what is its exact meaning in this song?

 

[Rover_KE]

It's a song — not a scientific treatise; it doesn't have to have an exact meaning. Make of it what you will.

The writers want to entertain you. They liked the sound of it, and want you to enjoy the sound of the words and music — not analyse the hell out of it.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

So what is its exact meaning in this song?

They're stumbling into love. It's a colorful way of saying they're falling in love.

As Rover says, songs and poems take liberties with words to create interesting effects.