They Can't Take That Away from Me
BILLIE HOLIDAY & COUNT BASIE Lyrics


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The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still I'll always, always keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife

The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On that bumpy road to love
Still I'll always, always keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife

The way we danced till three
The way you change my life




No, no they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

Overall Meaning

In "They Can't Take That Away From Me," Billie Holiday and Count Basie sing about the intangible things about a loved one that can never truly be taken away. The way they wear their hat or sip their tea - these small details are ingrained in one's memory and will always be part of their personal experience. Even if they may never see that person again, the memory of these seemingly insignificant moments will endure.


The lyrics go on to describe other traits that make an individual unique, such as the way they smile or sing off-key, and even the way they hold a knife. Through these small idiosyncrasies, a profound connection is forged that cannot be diminished. The two artists also reference the memories of dancing until three in the morning and how the person they love irrevocably changed their life. The lyrics convey the message that even though the relationship may have ended, these small but essential memories are what make it hard to forget that special someone.


"They Can't Take That Away From Me" is a testament to the power of memories and the emotional ties that they create. While tangible things such as objects or even relationships can come and go, the memories that one holds onto remain eternal. Even if one never sees a person again, these memories will always be with them, shaping who they are and affecting their lives in countless ways.


Line by Line Meaning

The way you wear your hat
The unique way you wear your hat that sets you apart from others


The way you sip your tea
The distinctive way you drink your tea that I find charming


The memory of all that
The lasting memory of our time together and all the things that made it special


No, no they can't take that away from me
Nobody can ever take away those cherished memories and experiences


The way your smile just beams
The infectious and radiant quality of your smile that lifts my spirits


The way you sing off key
The endearing way you sing even though it may not be perfect


The way you haunt my dreams
The way you linger in my thoughts and dreams even when we are apart


We may never, never meet again
There is a possibility that we may never have the opportunity to see each other again


On the bumpy road to love
Even though our relationship has been difficult and uncertain at times


Still I'll always, always keep the memory of
Nevertheless, I will always cherish and hold onto the memories of our time together


The way you hold your knife
The distinctive way you hold your knife while dining that I find endearing


The way we danced till three
The way we danced together until the early hours of the morning


The way you changed my life
The profound impact you had on my life and the person I have become because of you


No, they can't take that away from me
Those memories and experiences are mine and no one can ever take that away from me




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@rupertstreetsoho

Fabulous atmospheric recording,all the better for being recorded out of the studio.

@Tbro13oo

Just The Best version of this I know of. Only wish it didn't have the announcer at the start.

@monicabella7894

makes it special

@iraplikeyoubreathe

Written by Gershwin as well,great song ....

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