Show Synopsis:
Dolly Gallagher Levi, the famous widowed "meddler," is asked by Ambrose Kemper to convince Horace Vandergelder that Ambrose is a suitable man for his niece Ermengarde. Horace travels to New York to meet Irene Molloy and propose to her, and Dolly, who wants to marry Horace herself, tries to dissuade him and point him towards the heiress Ernestina Money. He leaves his employees Cornelius and Barnaby in the charge of the store, but they blow up some tomato cans to give themselves an excuse to close the store and go to New York themselves. Dolly sets them up with Irene and her shop assistant Minnie Fay, because Irene does not love Horace, while Cornelius and Barnaby pretend to be rich socialites to impress the girls. Ernestina becomes bored by Horace, just as Dolly planned, and ends up eating dinner with him, but the entire crew ends up in night court after Barnaby and Horace get their wallets mixed up and Horace realizes that Ermengarde and Ambrose are on a date. Dolly convinces the judge that that the boys' only crime was being in love with their respective women, leaving Horace to pay for the charges, as he is not in love and therefore guilty. Horace tells Dolly he'll never marry her, but the next morning, as all the couples begin their new lives together, he realizes that he needs Dolly in his life, and they become engaged.	

Character:
Dolly Gallagher Levi, a professional "meddler" who has been widowed but likes to match up other couples; brassy and speaks her mind to whomever she wants; has her sights set on marrying Horace Vandergelder.

Song Context:
Dolly has just arranged for all the couples to dine at Harmonia Gardens, and taught Cornelius and Barnaby how to dance. While everyone goes to watch the Fourteenth Street Association Parade together, Dolly knows that she needs to put her deceased husband Ephram behind her and move on with her life. However, she yearns for a sign from Ephram to know she is making the right decision.	

Fun Facts:
1. The role of Dolly Gallagher Levi was originally written for Ethel Merman. It was subsequently offered to Mary Martin, who turned it down. Although Carol Channing eventually originated it, both Merman and Martin eventually played the role. 
2. This song was added as a result of mediocre reviews at the Detroit and Washington D.C. try-outs, alongside other major revisions in the script and score. 
3. The roots of the plot of this musical go back to an 1835 play by John Oxenford titled A Day Well Spent, which was later adapted into Johann Nestroy's Einen Jux will er sich machen (He Will Go On A Spree) and Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker.