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Kentucky Waltz
Bill Monroe Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We were waltzing that night in Kentucky
Beneath the beautiful harvest moon
And I was the boy that was lucky
But it all ended too soon
As I sit here alone in the moonlight
I see your smiling face
And I long once more for your embrace
In that beautiful Kentucky waltz

We were waltzing that night in Kentucky
Beneath the beautiful harvest moon
And I was the boy that was lucky
But it all ended too soon
As I sit here alone in the moonlight
I see your smiling face
And I long once more for your embrace
In that beautiful Kentucky waltz

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bill Monroe's song Kentucky Waltz reflect on a romantic encounter that ended too soon. The singer reminisces about dancing with his love in Kentucky beneath the beautiful harvest moon. The joy and excitement he felt that night was cut short, and now he sits alone in the moonlight longing for her embrace once more. The waltz represents a fleeting moment of happiness that he desperately wishes to experience again.


The melancholic tone of the song emphasizes the nostalgia the singer feels for a lost love. The repeated imagery of the harvest moon adds to the imagery of a fleeting moment of happiness. The singer's emotions are palpable in the lyrics, conveying the universal feeling of loss and the yearning for a chance to relive a memory.


Line by Line Meaning

We were waltzing that night in Kentucky
On that night in Kentucky, we were dancing a waltz


Beneath the beautiful harvest moon
The moon on that night was a beautiful full moon


And I was the boy that was lucky
I was fortunate to be dancing with you that night


But it all ended too soon
The waltz came to an end too quickly


As I sit here alone in the moonlight
Now, I am sitting by myself in the moonlight


I see your smiling face
In my mind, I can see your happy expression


And I long once more for your embrace
I desire to feel your arms around me again


In that beautiful Kentucky waltz
During that magical dance in Kentucky




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BILL MONROE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@paulas1man

The Mandolin and the Violin are the only two instruments that sound so beautiful that they bring tears to my eyes. Thanks for this song Mr. Monroe

@pegcage

My mother loved this song. We used to sit around the radio on Saturday night listening to the Grand Ole Opry and just hoping that Bill would sing it. And hoping the static would not be too bad, like it was sometimes in the summer. We did not have many records and just an old Victrola phonograph. Nowadays, you can get any song you want instantly on demand, and right here on you tube too. That is why I have to have good speakers connected to my computer. I like my music with a good rich sound.

@ItsWaldo

Thanks  Mary...glad you liked it  :-)

@Angloman2000

Mary Cage How are you doing now Mrs Cage? Sure hope you’re still in good health! God bless you!

@louiserawle8999

I like Paul Brewster's version best.

@sentimentaloldme

There are songs that come and go ...but this is absolutely beautiful...R.I.P. Bill Monroe...

@rage_entertainment2565

This and Georgia rose

@kat-den

Sitting here listening to music that I grew up knowing and hearing still to this day. I'm 73 years old and thinking back as a child and how fortunate I was to have the parents and big brother God gave me. We were Church goers and almost every weekend friends of my folks and their children would get together and sing, play instruments (banjo, guitars, mandolin, fiddles and bass fiddle). These bluegrass and gospel songs were recorded on table top reel to reel recorders. What Joy it was and still is though it does bring a tear to my eye. Now my daughter sings some of them with me! Thank You for bringing this ol' gal a smile 🌹

@artsmart

This tune actually inspired Red Stewart and Peewee King to create the Tennessee Waltz back in 1947. Patti Page picked it up in 1950 and made the Tennessee Waltz a classic.

@gigibaglino8839

Love this song,sang it many times,worked in a Nursing home ,all the old folks just loved it.Expecally the one's who came from there.Great old song...

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