Peters is particularly noted for her starring roles in the musicals Song and Dance (Tony Award, Best Actress in Musical) , Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award, Best Actress in Musical), Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods, becoming closely associated with the composers Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and in films including The Jerk and Pennies from Heaven, both opposite Steve Martin.
Peters has received many honorary awards over the years, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April 1987); the Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (1987); the Sarah Siddons Award for outstanding performance in a Chicago theatrical production (1994); the American Theatre Hall of Fame at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City (1996), becoming the youngest person so honored (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Christopher Rawson, January 25, 1996, p. C1); an Honorary Doctorate from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (May 19, 2002) [10]; and the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame (June 28, 2002).
Unexpected Song
Bernadette Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For once, I'm lost for words
Your smiles has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I don't know what's going on
Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me?
I just can't believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn't bare to lose me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I have never felt like this
For once, I'm lost for words
Your smiles has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
Bernadette Peters's song Unexpected Song is about falling in love unexpectedly and being overwhelmed by those feelings. The singer expresses surprise at the level of love and affection shown by her partner and is struggling to understand why they were chosen. She reveals that she has never felt this way before and that her partner's smile has thrown her off balance. Despite the confusion and surprise, the singer is unable to take her mind off her partner and sees their face everywhere she looks. She compares this experience to hearing an "unexpected song" that only they can hear.
The lyrics in this song reflect the emotions that many people experience when they fall in love unexpectedly. It can be challenging to understand why someone would choose us or feel such a strong connection to us. This can cause confusion and uncertainty, which are emotions that the singer in this song is expressing. The idea of the "unexpected song" is a beautiful metaphor for the unique bond that two people share when they fall in love.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the joy and confusion that come with falling in love unexpectedly. The melody is haunting, and the lyrics are insightful, making it a classic that can be enjoyed by generations.
Line by Line Meaning
I have never felt like this
I have never experienced these intense emotions before
For once, I'm lost for words
I am in a state of speechlessness, which is rare for me
Your smiles has really thrown me
Your smiles have deeply affected me and left me perplexed
This is not like me at all
This reaction is not typical of my personality
I never thought I'd know
I never expected to experience
The kind of love you've shown me
The intense affection and care that you have expressed towards me
Now, no matter where I am
In any situation, at any location
No matter what I do
Regardless of my actions or efforts
I see your face appearing
Your image keeps coming back to my mind
Like an unexpected song
Like a melody that took me by surprise
An unexpected song
This feeling was unexpected and new
That only we are hearing
The emotions and connection we share are unique to us
I don't know what's going on
I am confused and uncertain
Can't work it out at all
I am unable to figure out what is happening
Whatever made you choose me?
I cannot seem to understand what attracted you to me
I just can't believe my eyes
I am surprised and struggling to process this
You look at me as though
Your gaze towards me suggests
You couldn't bare to lose me
You want and value me so much that losing me would be unbearable for you
Like an unexpected song
Like a melody that took me by surprise
An unexpected song
This feeling was unexpected and new
That only we are hearing
The emotions and connection we share are unique to us
Like an unexpected song
Like a melody that took me by surprise
An unexpected song
This feeling was unexpected and new
That only we are hearing
The emotions and connection we share are unique to us
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DON BLACK, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emily Magyar
From Song and Dance I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I don't know what is going on
Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me
I just can't believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn't bear to lose me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
Mikki Baker
She doesn't "just" sing a song, she performs a song -- with every fiber of her being. That's what separates her from all those other singers.
MisterInkedUK (aka Jethro)
Damn I couldn't describe this treasure any better then you just did 😘😘😘
PRR5406
My God, she expresses the lyrics in her voice, heart, and very fiber. Easily the finest rendition of this lovely song. I think I'm in love with Bernadette Peters!
Highinsight7
she's wonderful!
Helen Gráf
She’s great, but personally for me Sarah Brightman’s rendition is perfect in every way
Rene Uriarte
We all are in love with her!
Rita and Runt
@Justin Case yes she really is and shes good at doing such an amazing job at what she does best
Alex Forsyth
No better performance of this song anywhere. Sublime.
MsCurryNoodle
I love her so much and im convinced she has found the fountain of youth.... is it just me or does she still look EXACTLY like she did in the 80s?
The Revolting Man
Bernadette is simply the most divine woman in show business since forever.