the way we were
Angelique Lyrics


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Memories light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?

Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember




The way we were
The way we were

Overall Meaning

Angelique's song 'The Way We Were' speaks about the memories that linger on in the mind. The lyrics open with "Memories light the corners of my mind", indicating that the singer is transported back to a different time by certain memories that they hold dear. The memories are described as "Misty water-colored memories", which hints at the singer's inability to see things clearly as memories tend to be fuzzy and unclear. They are likened to "scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind" which suggests that the memories are made up of different fragments that reflect moments of happiness.


The second verse of the song throws up some interesting questions as the singer wonders whether they are romanticizing the past or whether it was really that uncomplicated. "Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time rewritten every line?" asks the singer, perhaps wondering whether the nuances of the present have clouded their memory of the past. The lines, "If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we? Could we?" continue with this theme of uncertainty, and hints at the singer's desire to go back and relive those days.


The final verse of the song takes a more solemn turn as the singer acknowledges that some memories can be too painful to bear. However, they choose to focus on happier memories and each time they remember those moments of joy, they will smile. The repeated line, "The way we were" at the end of the song signifies how important the memories are and how they will stay with the singer for a long time.


Line by Line Meaning

Memories light the corners of my mind
My mind is filled with memories that are in the back of my head, only present when I remember them.


Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
The memories I have of our past are faded, almost like a watercolor painting.


Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
I have many pictures of the happy moments we shared.


Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
We smiled at each other often, reminded of how we used to be.


Can it be that it was all so simple then
I am wondering if it was really that easy in the past.


Or has time rewritten every line
I wonder if time has changed the way things actually happened.


If we had the chance to do it all again
I am curious if we had a chance to go back and relive it all, would we?


Tell me, would we?
I want to know if we would actually go back and experience it all again.


Could we?
I am contemplating if we could go back and do it all again if given the chance.


Memories may be beautiful and yet
Though some memories are heartwarming and make me happy,


What's too painful to remember
There are other memories too painful to recall.


We simply choose to forget
We decide to forget about the painful memories and focus on the good ones instead.


So it's the laughter we will remember
When we look back, it will be the good times and the laughter that we remember most.


Whenever we remember
Every time we look back and remember.


The way we were
The way we were together in the past.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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