MEMORY
Andrew Lloyd Webber(로이드 웨버) Lyrics


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Daylight, 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

Midnight, 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 street lamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn'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 street lamp 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Memory" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats" is sung by the character Grizabella, a former glamour cat who has fallen on hard times. The song reflects her sadness and isolation as she longs for the happiness and beauty of her past. The first verse describes a scene of dawn, where Grizabella sees the dew on a sunflower and a fading rose. She yearns to turn her face to the dawn and is waiting for a new day. In contrast, the second verse is set at midnight where Grizabella wonders if the moon has lost her memory. The withered leaves collect at her feet, and the wind begins to moan. The chorus brings together the themes of memory, loneliness, and hope as Grizabella remembers her past, smiles at the old days, and longs for happiness. The final verse brings the song to a close as Grizabella reflects on the end of another night and the beginning of a new day. She longs for the touch of someone who will understand her and help her find happiness again.


Line by Line Meaning

Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
Observing the dew on the sunflower during the day


And a rose that is fading
Noticing a fading rose in the same vicinity


Roses whither away like the sunflower
Reflecting on the transience of life and beauty


I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
Longing for a new beginning and a brighter future


I am waiting for the day
Anticipating a positive change or event


Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
The stillness and tranquility of nighttime


Has the moon lost her memory?
Expressing a sense of nostalgia, as if the moon has forgotten the past


She is smiling alone in the lamplight
Describing the moon's expression in isolation


The withered leaves collect at my feet
Noticing the accumulation of dead leaves around oneself


And the wind begins to moan
Hearing the ominous sound of the wind


Memory, all alone in the moonlight
Reflecting on past experiences in a solitary state of mind


I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
Finding joy in reminiscing about pleasant memories of youth


I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Recalling a specific moment when one was truly happy


Let the memory live again
Desiring to relive a positive experience or event


Every street lamp
Noticing the environmental cues around oneself


Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Feeling a sense of impending doom or negativity indicated by surroundings


Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
Hearing someone speaking indistinctly while the lamp flickers


And soon it will be morning
Recognizing the impending arrival of a new day


Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
Looking forward to a brighter future


I must think of a new life
Contemplating changing one's current circumstances or situation


And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
Resolving to continue persevering through hardships


Tonight will be a memory too
Acknowledging that the current moment will eventually become a memory


And a new day will begin
Anticipating a new beginning and fresh opportunities


Burnt out ends of smoky days
Describing the remains of past, possibly negative experiences


The stale cold smell of morning
Noticing the unpleasant odor of morning


The street lamp dies, another night is over
Observing the end of a cycle or period of time


Another day is dawning
Realizing the potential for a new beginning and fresh start


Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
Acknowledging one's vulnerability and ease of abandonment


All alone with the memory
Being left behind with only one's own memories and thoughts


Of my days in the sun if you touch me
Hinting at happier times in the past and the comfort that brings


You'll understand what happiness is
Suggesting that happiness can be understood and shared with others


Look
Encouraging the listener to observe and pay attention to the world around them


A new day has begun
Affirming the arrival of a new day and new opportunities




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, T.S Eliot, Trevor Nnunn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

The Tune: BELLA :}

Whenever she hits that note at "touch me!" I get goosebumps I feel like I could just faint and die her voice is that powerful😭

Carlos Cordero

That's when I cry. Waterworks.

hillock10

Here we have probably THE greatest song ever written for the theatre and beyond and sung beautifully. The chord progression is stunning, as the foundation for a captivating melody.

Kacie Loryn

Andrew is a legend, he is such a genius!

ali ali

He stole it from my country. And it wasn't written for the theatre. It's a song we been singing in my country since 60s. Sick if people getting praise for stolen material

hillock10

@ali ali Can you provide more info here? What country are you talking about? And what is the name of the song in your country? And can you refer to the actual musical score of the song? This would help.

ali ali

There's a link. It's from Latvia. Listen to all of it to hear it

7 More Replies...

SylvEdu

The older you get, the more this song hurts...

K Usuario

Lmao so true

The Tune: BELLA :}

😭

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