When
Bernadette Peters & Mandy Patinkin Lyrics
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We looked at each other in the same way then
But I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
The lyrics of 'Where or When' by Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin depict a sense of déjà vu, where two people somehow recognize each other but can't pinpoint where or when they've met before. They recall standing and talking to each other in the same way, wearing the same clothes, and having the same smile. The song goes on to suggest that certain experiences and emotions repeat themselves, leading the two individuals to feel as though they've met before, loved before, and laughed before. Yet, due to the limitations of memory, they can't be sure of the time and place where they've crossed paths.
The song is an ode to the enduring, intangible nature of memories and how they can be triggered by familiar sensations or encounters. The lyrics are filled with nostalgia and a wistful longing to remember significant events and people. As the two performers sing, they evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws the listener into the song's hypnotic pattern.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems we stood and talked like this before
It feels like we’ve already had this conversation
We looked at each other in the same way then
We had the same look in our eyes
But I can't remember where or when
I can’t recall the exact time and place
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
You’re wearing the same outfit you wore in the past
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
The same smile is on your face from the past
But I can't remember where or when
I can’t remember when this happened
Some things that happened for the first time
Certain experiences feel new yet familiar
Seem to be happening again
It feels like it’s happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
We’ve supposedly met in the past
And laughed before, and loved before
We’ve shared moments of joy and love before
But who knows where or when
It’s unknown when or where these moments occurred
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cferrante
Came back to watch this today with heavy heart. This song has a gravitas when they sing it now, compared to when they were younger. It’s almost like their life experiences inform their performances now.
@happygucci5094
They were chefs kiss perfection together- forever my favorite Dot and George. The love the emotion the understanding their interpretation of maestro Sondheim is pitch perfect
@MrLemongravy
"anything you do, let it come from you, then it will be new
give us more to see"
wow.
@jm7804
She is a stone cold legend goddess. There will never be another one like her. He can be a real asshat, but that voice can make a grown man shed a tear. The combination of voices is something very special.
@0217ldp
I had no idea Mandy Pantinkin could sing like this. Such projection and breath control.
@ralphsepulveda5335
This is the perfect clip to celebrate the great Master's final passage into eternity. In the last 24 hours, I've watched it over 10 times and each time, I break up. No one - ever - has given us a richer, more sustained vision of heaven than Stephen Sondheim. We have all been blessed to live at a time to be directly touched by the amplitude of his genius. Long may his legacy live on. Move on, indeed!
@lizziescott459
I know nothing about this musical but this song moves me deeply in ways I can’t explain.
@lovenotegestapo
My favourite part of this is the very end, when they're hugging and Mandy clearly says, "I love you," and Bernadette clearly says, "I love you too." Two amazing artists entirely admiring and caring for each other. You love to see it <3
@cannibalisticrequiem
I get choked up every time I watch this! It's such a beautiful moment, and you can just see the warmth and tenderness Bernadette and Mandy have for each other in their eyes and body language.
It's literally the ending of the musical, but now it's life imitating art.
@theogoldberg8919
#lovenotegestapo EXAAAAAAAAACTLYYYYYY