They Say It's Wonderful
John Coltrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So wonderful, so they say
The thing that's known as romance
Is wonderful
So wonderful, so they tell me
I can't recall who said it
I know I never read it
I only know they tell me that love is grand
And if there's a moon up above
It's wonderful, wonderful
In every way, so they say
You'll leave your house one morning
And without any warning
You find yourself shouting that love is grand
To hold your girl in your arms
Is wonderful, wonderful
In every way, so they say
The song They Say It's Wonderful by John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman speaks of the beauty and wonder of love, as so many before them have tried to capture in words. The opening lines suggest that love is a widely accepted concept of wonder and amazement, with the usage of "so they say" throughout the verse. This gives it a certain level of ambiguity - the singer is not completely convinced but is willing to trust the voices of others who have experienced it.
The second verse goes a step further, explaining that the singer has never read about love but still knows that people claim it to be "grand." This signals a sense of personal uncertainty or doubt, which is further revealed in the later lines of the verse. The image of the moon hanging above is often associated with romance and is used here as a symbol of the mysterious and captivating nature of love.
The final verse speaks to the transformative power of love. It suggests that holding someone in your arms is a truly wonderful feeling, and to feel that way is something that is widely agreed upon in society. The line about shouting this fact suggests the overwhelming nature of love - it can make someone feel so much that they want to shout it from the rooftops.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that falling love is wonderful
It's an agreed upon fact that falling in love is anything but ordinary and truly extraordinary.
So wonderful, so they say
It's such an overwhelmingly beautiful sensation that people have no choice but to describe it as wonderful.
The thing that's known as romance
Romance is a feeling, a concept recognized globally that defies national and cultural barriers.
Is wonderful
It's a captivating emotion that has the power to render a person speechless in awe.
So wonderful, so they tell me
It's an experience that can barely be described in words, therefore they resort to telling others about their experiences.
I can't recall who said it
The fact that someone said it first is insignificant because the sensation is now so universally recognized.
I know I never read it
Even if someone were to have read about it before, it does not fully prepare them for the experience of falling in love.
I only know they tell me that love is grand
The sharing of such an experience is essential to understanding how grand love truly is.
And if there's a moon up above
The moon is a constant symbol of the extraordinary sensation of being in love.
It's wonderful, wonderful
The impact of seeing the moon while in love only adds to the laughter and joy that you feel on the inside.
In every way, so they say
The experience is not only evident in the present but also creates lasting memories.
You'll leave your house one morning
The journey to love is long and it can catch you off-guard.
And without any warning
You say goodbye to a life that you are used to and say hello to a new one full of surprises.
You find yourself shouting that love is grand
It compels you to speak out and express your gratitude for the feeling and the person who awakened it.
To hold your girl in your arms
The way holding someone you love makes you feel is inexplicable.
Is wonderful, wonderful
This feeling is as wonderful as it gets.
In every way, so they say
It's not only felt on the surface but within, as well.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind