Tennessee Waltz
Ann Breen Lyrics
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When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes I lost, my darling, the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
I was waltzing with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes I lost, my darling, the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Ann Breen's Tennessee Waltz tells a story about a heartbroken lover who lost his sweetheart during a dance. The song revolves around the singer waltzing with his lover, and he introduces an old friend to his loved one. While they were dancing, the friend stole his sweetheart from him. The bridge then describes how the singer remembers that night and the Tennessee Waltz, which just amplifies the pain of losing his lover. The final line repeats the name of the song, perhaps emphasizing how beautiful the Tennessee Waltz is and how it was this specific melody that played when he lost his lover.
The precise location and the circumstances of the dance are never clarified. These details are intentionally left out to allow the listener to fill in their interpretation of the story. The song is more about the feelings of heartbreak, nostalgia, and the bittersweet memories of a love once had. It showcases the quintessential country heartbreak and uses the Tennessee Waltz as a metaphor for love's transience and dramatic turns. It's a song that speaks to the universal theme of lost love and its lingering effects on a heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I was waltzing with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
I was dancing with my beloved partner to the sweet melody of Tennessee Waltz.
When an old friend I happened to see
When I stumbled upon an old acquaintance.
I introduced her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
I introduced my acquaintance to my loved one and they started dancing together.
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
My acquaintance took away my beloved one from me.
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
I will always remember the night I lost my beloved partner while dancing to Tennessee Waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost
Now I understand the great amount of loss I have suffered.
Yes I lost, my darling, the night they were playing
Yes, I lost my darling during the night they played the song.
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
The beautiful melody of Tennessee Waltz.
INSTRUMENTAL
Although there are no words sung, the music played is expressing the sadness and heartbreak of the situation.
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.