That Old Feeling
Anita O’Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night my heart was so gay
Last night I found myself dancing
In my favorite cabaret
You were completely forgotten
Just an affair of the past
Then suddenly something happened to me
And I found my heart beating, oh, so fast
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
The lyrics of Anita O'Day's song "That Old Feeling" describe a powerful experience of rediscovering old emotions and connections with someone from the past. The singer begins by reflecting on a recent night when they were happy and carefree, enjoying themselves in a favorite cabaret. During this time, thoughts of the person they used to have an affair with were completely forgotten, indicating a sense of moving on and letting go.
However, something unexpectedly happens to the singer, and their heart starts beating rapidly. This suggests that upon seeing the person from their past again, they experience a surge of emotions and memories. The lyrics express the intense impact this reunion has, with the singer feeling a thrill as the person dances by and their heart momentarily stopping when their eyes meet.
This encounter stirs up a familiar longing within the singer, evoking old desires and emotions. They realize that the spark of love has not completely dissipated, and despite the temptation, they acknowledge that it would be foolish to start a new romance. The lyrics suggest that the old feeling, referring to the lingering emotions for this person, remains deep within the singer's heart.
Overall, the song captures the complex and often conflicting emotions associated with reencountering someone from the past. It delves into the excitement, nostalgia, and internal struggles that can arise when old feelings resurface, showcasing Anita O'Day's expressive vocals and the universal experience of holding onto past connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I started out happy
Yesterday evening, I began my evening with joy and contentment
Last night my heart was so gay
During that same time, my heart was filled with happiness and delight
Last night I found myself dancing
On that occasion, I discovered myself engaging in the art of dance
In my favorite cabaret
In the establishment I most prefer, known as a cabaret
You were completely forgotten
You were entirely erased from my memory
Just an affair of the past
Simply a relationship that belongs to a time gone by
Then suddenly something happened to me
Then unexpectedly, an event transpired in my life
And I found my heart beating, oh, so fast
And I discovered my heart throbbing with great intensity and speed
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
I observed your presence yesterday evening and experienced a familiar sentiment
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
Upon glimpsing your arrival, I was overcome by that same emotion
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
At the precise instant when you gracefully moved past, I experienced a surge of excitement
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Furthermore, when our gazes met, my heart momentarily ceased its rhythm
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
Once more, I appeared to sense that familiar intense desire
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
Additionally, I comprehended that the flame of love still remained ignited
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
There will not be a fresh romantic connection for me; commencing one would be unwise
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
Because that enduring sentiment from the past still resides deeply within me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesmaseobrown
She just portrays that 1950's style glamor so well. I love to watch her sing, you can tell she gets so much joy out of it. That's one of the things that made her a great singer !
@feuip
She feels so much pleasure singing it that there's no way she could ever sound bad.. i mean. Just look at her!!!
@Bootrosgali
Yay! Allow me to take the first shout out for this one , and what an honour! I predict from her perfection, all the sublime subtle tonal pitches, slides and slurs, done with fetching sassiness the bubbling creative musicality that she brings to each and every phrase she makes as total master of her vocal instrument assures will get all the praise from all subsequent comments on this footage.
@SuperTonman
I've been a big fan of Anita's for a long time, this is one of my favorite songs of hers thanks for posting. Also her new documentary just became available on dvd, entitled..Life of a jazz singer. If you are a fan of hers you'll enjoy it
@Aqualash
i just got this DVD..it was for TV so its recorded beautifully. I've heard lots of jazz,but this version is just phenomenal...the nuance and expression is beyond words
@1edu1
Anita é fantástica! Tem estilo próprio e transmite felicidade em tudo que canta. Sua técnica vocal é excepcional e seu senço de ritmo e fraseado são maravilhosos. Misturado a algo muito sexy num olhar, num gesto. That Old Feeling ficou perfeita na voz dessa grande dama do jazz!
@AlexRadulescuClaudiu
Everybody should hear this song, it's great!
@hep2jive
helped me though my teen years! which im still in. what a voice! wow that band sounds so modern! what a true modern sound.
@funwithjamess
great lady they dont make them like her anymore, I noticed in the paper in 84 she was singing in this small bar I drove 130 miles to sit there and listen to her
@matosanz
grande anita o day!!! maravillosa cantante, todo lo que hace lo hace con gracia!!