As Time Goes By
Billie Holiday & Eddie Heywood Orchestra Lyrics

The song "As Time Goes By" is a timeless classic that speaks to the eternal truth of love and romance. It is a song that has been associated with Billie Holiday since she recorded it in 1936 with Eddie Heywood and His Orchestra. The lyrics are simple yet profound, expressing the fundamental things that never change in relationships even as time goes by. The first line "You must remember this" refers to the importance of remembering the things that matter in life, such as love and the memories it creates, despite the passage of time. The second line "A kiss is still a kiss" emphasizes that even though time may change everything else, the feeling of passion that comes with a kiss remains the same. The third line "A sigh is just a sigh" conveys the idea that no matter how deep our emotions are, we can express them with a sigh. The fourth line "The fundamental things apply" reminds us that the core values of love, respect, and commitment apply in all relationships, regardless of time.

The second verse of the song describes the role of moonlight and love songs in the context of romance, as they never go out of style. It also speaks to the presence of passion, jealousy, and hate in relationships, which can lead to conflict but also make it more exciting. The line "Woman needs man, and man must have his mate" emphasizes the importance of human connection, and how being in a relationship fulfills that need. The last part of the verse "It's still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die" reveals that even though we live in a different time from when the song was written, the challenges of love remain the same. The final line "The world will always welcome lovers" acknowledges that the desire for love and companionship is universal and something that never fades away.