101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening sym… Read Full Bio ↴101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization, with a discography exceeding a hundred albums and a creative lifetime of roughly thirty years. Their LPs were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence", a puffy cloud logo and sepia-toned photo of the orchestra. According to the photograph, the 101 Strings orchestra was composed of 124 string instruments (all male except for the harpist) and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan. The orchestra's famous official photograph was taken in the Musikhalle Hamburg. In reality, of course, the recordings also featured a full brass, woodwind and percussion section, and not quite as many strings as are shown in the photograph. In later years (right up to the 80's), the recordings were made by a session orchestra in London, with a line-up including a modern "pop" rhythm section. In the late 1990's, the 101 Strings Orchestra was revived with "The New 101 Strings Orchestra" for a series of modern recordings.

Polka Dots And Moonbeams
101 Strings Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A country dance was being held in a garden
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
All around a pug-nosed dream

The music started and was I the perplexed one
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams

Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream

There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
As we floated over the floor
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
And perhaps a few things more

Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"

And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream

Overall Meaning

The song Moonbeams by 101 Strings is a sweet and romantic tune telling the story of a country dance that turns into a magical and life-changing experience for the singer. The lyrics recount an encounter with a person who catches the singer's attention. After bumping into them and apologizing, the singer notices how their appearance is covered in polka dots, surrounded by moonbeams. They dance together to the music, feeling a bit nervous but also excited, and are watch by other dancers who don't understand what they see.

The singer's heart knows the answers to the questions that arise from this peculiar occurrence, and they eventually end up in a place of happiness and joy, symbolized by a "cottage built of lilacs and laughter." The song suggests that the pug-nosed dream is a source of endless wonder and delight and implies a long-lasting commitment to it.

Line by Line Meaning

A country dance was being held in a garden
A social gathering featuring traditional dances was taking place outdoors in a backyard

I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
I accidentally collided with someone and heard them apologize for the incident

Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
I became aware of a surreal, dream-like quality to my surroundings

All around a pug-nosed dream
This surreal quality seemed to emanate from a person with a small nose

The music started and was I the perplexed one
As the music began, I felt confused and uncertain

I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
I nervously asked someone for the opportunity to dance with them next

In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
As we danced, the surreal quality returned, and seemed to envelope us in a warm embrace

Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream
The surreal quality was still centered around my dance partner with the small nose

There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
Other people at the dance seemed curious about the unusual atmosphere surrounding us

As we floated over the floor
As we continued to dance gracefully together

There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
Despite the confusion around us, I knew, in my heart, that this dance was meant to be

And perhaps a few things more
I had a sense of knowing deep truths about my dance partner and our connection

Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
In a cozy home filled with joy and the scent of flowers

I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
I understand what it means to be happy and fulfilled, for the rest of my life

And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
The surreal magic of that first dance stayed with me, coloring my view of the world forevermore

When I kiss the pug-nosed dream
Every time I am near my beloved partner with the small nose, that same surreal quality returns

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, JOHNNY BURKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS