Memory
Άλκηστις Πρωτοψάλτη Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp gutters
And soon it will be morning
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look
A new day has begun
The song Memory by Άλκηστις Πρωτοψάλτη is a poignant reflection on the transience of time and memory, set to a hauntingly beautiful melody. Through vivid imagery and delicate phrasing, the lyrics of the song explore the themes of loss, nostalgia, and the power of memory to transport us back to happier times. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song by contrasting the beauty of the natural world with the inevitability of decay and death. The delicate petals of a rose and the dew on a sunflower are juxtaposed against the metaphor of the withering sunflower, symbolizing the fleeting nature of all things beautiful and the pain that comes with their passing.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the nighttime, where the loneliness and isolation of the singer is acutely felt. The emptiness of the pavement is contrasted with the moon, an eternal and unchanging presence that nonetheless seems to have lost its memory. The image of the withered leaves collecting at the singer's feet and the moaning wind add to the sense of desolation and melancholy.
The chorus of the song, which marks a shift in tone and mood, is an affirmation of the power of memory to transcend time and evoke feelings of happiness and contentment. The singer remembers a time when they were young and beautiful, before the cares and worries of life had taken their toll. The lyrics are so evocative that they can transport the listener back to their own happier memories, creating an emotional connection that is both personal and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Daylight
The beginning of a new day
See the dew on the sunflower
Observing the natural world when the sun rises
And a rose that is fading
Noticing the passage of time through the wilting of flowers
Roses whither away
Flowers gradually lose their beauty and vitality
Like the sunflower
Similar to how sunflowers eventually wilt and droop
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
Longing to embrace a new beginning with hopefulness
I am waiting for the day
Eagerly anticipating what each day brings
Midnight
The middle of the night
Not a sound from the pavement
No noises emanating from the surroundings
Has the moon lost her memory?
Asking whether the moon has forgotten past events
She is smiling alone
The moon stands by itself in the dark sky
In the lamplight
A source of light during the night hours
The withered leaves collect at my feet
Dead and dried leaves accumulate by the feet
And the wind begins to moan
The sound of the wind is heard
Memory
Recollection of the past
All alone in the moonlight
Being alone in an illuminated night
I can smile at the old days
Nostalgia brings a smile to one's face
I was beautiful then
Belief in one's past beauty and youthfulness
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Reminiscing a time in which they felt happy and content
Let the memory live again
Encouraging memory to be revived again
Every streetlamp
Each elongated electric bulb with a metal post
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Possibly signaling an ominous message
Someone mutters
A person murmurs or whispers
And the streetlamp gutters
Water pours from the metal channels near the lights
And soon it will be morning
Morning is quickly approaching
I must wait for the sunrise
Waiting for the sun to emerge from the horizon
I must think of a new life
Consider the prospects of a new existence
And I musn't give in
One cannot succumb to pessimism
When the dawn comes
The start of a fresh day
Tonight will be a memory too
This evening will also become a memory
And a new day will begin
A new day commences
Burnt out ends of smoky days
Remnants of charred and sooty time periods
The stale cold smell of morning
A musty and frigid odor present during early daylight hours
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
The streetlight's flame extinguishes, representing the end of the night
Another day is dawning
A fresh day is starting
Touch me
Physically contact me
It's so easy to leave me
Leaving is simple to do
All alone with the memory
By oneself with only memories as company
Of my days in the sun
Recalling past memories of happy times
If you touch me
If you connect with me
You'll understand what happiness is
You will comprehend what contentment feels like
Look
Observe
A new day has begun
A another day has started
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.