I met him one night while I lived in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. I was at the bar at a popular night spot in old Palm Beach called Chuck and Harold's. They featured a sidewalk-side eating area and a black and white checkered terrazzo floor that went past an elegant bar that led to an open-air dancing floor. Booths were arranged around the dancefloor and the richest of the rich drank their martinis and swooned to the music of a full orchestra. And there he was, Billy Butterfield, at the end of his career but still playing a number or two as the featured entertainer with the house orchestra. He thanked me for his drink, played "Rosalie", from the Conniff album and then sort of disappeared, as though he only a few of these songs left in him. But he was as great as Al Hirt, Bobby Hackett and Doc Severenson, all rolled into one. Catch him on Conniff Meets Butterfield, you won't be sorry.
The Song Is You
Billy Butterfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A beautiful theme of every
Dream I ever knew.
Down deep in my heart I hear it play.
I feel it start, then melt away.
I hear music when I touch your hand,
A beautiful melody
Down deep in my heart, I hear it say,
Is this the day?
I alone have heard this lovely strain,
I alone have heard this glad refrain:
Must it be forever inside of me,
Why can't I let it go,
Why can't I let you know,
Why can't I let you know the song
My heart would sing?
That beautiful rhapsody
Of love and youth and spring,
The music is sweet,
The words are true
The song is you.
The lyrics to Billy Butterfield's "The Song Is You" are a beautiful and poetic expression of love and devotion. The opening line, "I hear music when I look at you," suggests that the singer is so deeply in love that they hear music whenever they gaze upon their beloved. The music they hear is not just any music, but a "beautiful theme of every dream" the singer has ever had. This music represents all the hopes and desires they have ever had, and the fact that they hear it when they look at this person suggests that their dreams have finally come true.
As the song continues, the singer describes how the music continues to play in their heart whenever they touch their beloved's hand. This music is described as a "beautiful melody from some enchanted land," again emphasizing the magical and transformative power of love. The singer clearly feels deeply connected to this person, as they say that they alone have heard this "lovely strain" and "glad refrain."
Despite the intensity of their feelings, the singer also expresses a sense of longing and frustration. They ask, "Must it be forever inside of me? Why can't I let you know the song my heart would sing?" This suggests that the singer yearns to share this music, this love, with the person they adore, but for some reason, they are unable to. Perhaps they are unsure if their feelings are reciprocated, or they fear rejection. Whatever the reason, the final lines of the song express the beauty and power of the love that the singer feels: "The music is sweet, the words are true, the song is you."
Overall, "The Song Is You" is a gorgeously romantic song that highlights the transformative power of love. It portrays love as a magical, almost mystical force that can bring music and beauty to our lives, but also acknowledges the complexities and challenges that come with opening our hearts to another person.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear music when I look at you,
When I gaze upon you, a symphony begins to play in my mind.
A beautiful theme of every
This symphony is a lovely melody that perfectly encapsulates every dream I've ever had.
Dream I ever knew.
It is as if this music is taken from a deep place within my subconscious- something that feels familiar and comforting.
Down deep in my heart I hear it play.
This joyous melody seems to resonate within my soul, providing me warmth and happiness.
I feel it start, then melt away.
Sadly, this music never seems to last as long as I would like, always fading away too soon.
I hear music when I touch your hand,
Every time our hands touch, a magical melody begins to play in my mind.
A beautiful melody
It fills me with wonder and excitement, as if I were being transported to an enchanted land.
From some enchanted land.
The emotion and energy of this music is so powerful that it feels as though it must be coming from a mystical place.
Down deep in my heart, I hear it say,
The tune seems to whisper in my heart, begging me to listen and enjoy its beauty.
Is this the day?
I cannot help but wonder if today is the day that we make a connection and share something special.
I alone have heard this lovely strain,
This music seems to be a secret that only I have been lucky enough to discover and enjoy.
I alone have heard this glad refrain:
It's as though this melody is a bright and cheerful refrain that no one else has yet been able to experience.
Must it be forever inside of me,
Sometimes I wonder if this delightful music is something that will forever be confined to my own mind and emotions.
Why can't I let it go,
Yet, I cannot help but be drawn back to this captivating tune time and time again.
Why can't I let you know,
I long to share this joy and passion with someone else, but I am unsure if they will feel the same way.
Why can't I let you know the song
I wish I could open up and express to you the magic of this music, but I fear that it will only be a disappointment to you.
My heart would sing?
If only I could find a way to communicate this beauty to you, perhaps we could share in this amazing experience together.
That beautiful rhapsody
This music is more than just a song to me; it is a stunning and elaborate composition that touches my soul.
Of love and youth and spring,
It evokes feelings of love, passion, and hope, reminding me of the boundless energy and potential of youth and springtime.
The music is sweet,
This music is one of the sweetest and most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
The words are true
Even though there are no literal words to this music, the emotions it evokes are pure and genuine.
The song is you.
In the end, this music is inspired by you- your beauty, your energy, and your spirit- and I am forever grateful to be able to experience it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind