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In San Francisco
Tony Bennett Lyrics


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The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gray
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I'm going home to my city by the Bay

I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care

My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me

Overall Meaning

The song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett is a tribute to the city that the artist considers to be his second home. The opening lines of the song express how other great cities of the world, such as Paris and Rome, seem to have lost their luster for the singer. He feels alone and forgotten in Manhattan and is yearning for the familiar embrace of his beloved San Francisco.


The singer's love for San Francisco is depicted in a picturesque way as he describes the city's charm and beauty. The hills of the city call to him, and he longs to be there, where cable cars ascend halfway to the sky. The weather is not a deterrent. Even if the air is chilly with morning fog, the singer declares that he does not care.


The singer's love is waiting for him in the city, above the windy sea. And as he returns to his beloved, he knows that the city that he left his heart in will welcome him with the warm and comforting embrace of its golden sun. Through this song, Tony Bennett pays a heartfelt tribute to the city that he considers to be his true home.


Line by Line Meaning

The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gray
Paris may be beautiful, but it no longer holds the same charm and appeal it once did


The glory that was Rome is of another day
Rome's greatness is a thing of the past and cannot be relived


I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I've been feeling lonely and neglected in New York City


I'm going home to my city by the Bay
I'm returning to San Francisco, the city I love


I left my heart in San Francisco
San Francisco holds a special place in my heart


High on a hill, it calls to me
The city of San Francisco, particularly the view from a hill, has a powerful pull on me


To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
I want to be in a place where even the cable cars have a sense of height and grandeur


The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care
The temperature or weather conditions do not matter to me as long as I am in San Francisco


My love waits there in San Francisco
The person I love is in San Francisco and I cannot wait to see them


Above the blue and windy sea
San Francisco is situated near the Pacific Ocean and the sea is one of its main features


When I come home to you, San Francisco
I am returning to San Francisco, the place I consider to be my home


Your golden sun will shine for me
I am returning to a place that is full of warmth, energy, and brightness




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@iamtimfoley

R.I.P. ❤ As a former SF resident, thank you for this wonderful song and all your work.

@Smenkhaare

Visited San Francisco twice in 1999 and 2000. Lovely city and if I lived in California (I live in NYC), it would be San Francisco. A very walkable city as well. Unusual for California.

@brothertspoon5899

@@SmenkhaareSF is the nyc of west coast in terms of urban density

@kevinyoung1858

RIP Tony. Thank you for a lifetime of music. You personify the word crooner and remain an icon of icons. Your passing weighs heavily on my heart.😔

@ninerscountry7885

Same here ..

@gladtobeopenminded

Classy performer and very nice person...

@cesarmogollon5669

Falleció a los 96 años ? Comentó una periodista, que fué un cantante sucesor de Frank Sinatra?

@HansGruber88

Such a simple and lovely song sung so beautifully. When Tony belts out the windy sea line, it gives you chills and brings tears at the same time. RIP to a legend.

@sallyjoan

That lovely gravelly voice.

@davidstears7037

RIP Tony, your music has bought me so much love over the years. ❤

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