Sentimental And Melancholy
Billie Holiday Lyrics


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Sentimental and melancholy
Whenever I think about you
It's only a mood
A brief interlude
That's better described
As just feelin' blue

I suppose that
It's just my folly
To keep it alive
As I do
But it's a kind of
Sugar coated misery

And foolish as it seems
I thought I'd like to be




Sentimental and melancholy
Whenever I think about you-ou

Overall Meaning

Billie Holiday's song "Sentimental and Melancholy" is a poignant representation of unrequited love where the singer talks about the sentiments and emotions that she goes through whenever she thinks about her love interest. She conveys that this feeling isn't a constant one and only comes in brief interludes that don't last long. It's a feeling that can be better described as 'just feeling blue,' a temporary state that fades away soon. She admits that it's her own fault to want to keep the feeling alive, but for her, it's like an addiction, a self-inflicted pain that comes with a sweet coating of melancholy. Although she knows it's foolish, she can't help but want to experience it, and the way she talks about it conveys a sense of bittersweet nostalgia.


The song is a testament to Billie Holiday's power as an interpreter of lyrics. The melancholic tune and Holiday's soft yet striking voice convey a lot of emotions, ranging from sadness to hopefulness. The lyrics, written by Irving Gordon, were composed to capture the feelings of people who are dealing with unrequited love. They are simple, yet powerful, and easy to relate to. The song's essence is in the contrast between the forced 'sentimentality' and the true emotions that the singer feels.


Line by Line Meaning

Sentimental and melancholy
Expressing a mix of sentimental feelings and sadness


Whenever I think about you
Whenever you come to my mind


It's only a mood
These feelings are only temporary


A brief interlude
A short moment in time


That's better described
It's more accurate to describe it in a different way


As just feelin' blue
As simply feeling sad


I suppose that
I believe that


It's just my folly
It's my mistake


To keep it alive
To continue having these feelings


As I do
The way I feel


But it's a kind of
However, it's a sort of


Sugar coated misery
A sadness that is somewhat sweet or pleasant


And foolish as it seems
Even though it's foolish


I thought I'd like to be
I believed that I would enjoy being


Sentimental and melancholy
Feeling a mix of sentiment and sadness whenever I think about you




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER, RICHARD WHITING, RICHARD A. WHITING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

stringplayer99

This wonderful song was written by Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer for the film "Ready, Willing, and Able" in 1937. If you like this song come check out the Richard A. Whiting Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Jeff Stewart

so beautiful indeed

monica bella

BILLIE 💖

Larie Wallace

I had and lost an original 65 vinyl of hers. boohoooo scratchy and all, it was the greatest.

MattC333

Story of my life...

Rudy Chorvat

elegand

brainsick213

Beautiful Lady Day.

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