As Time Goes By
Bryan Ferry Roxy Music Lyrics
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A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say "I love you"
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
Bryan Ferry's song "As Time Goes By" is a beautiful reflection on the eternal and timeless nature of love. The lyrics capture the essence of romance and how the fundamental elements of love such as a kiss, a sigh, and the expression of "I love you" never go out of style, no matter how much time has passed.
The song starts with the familiar refrain "You must remember this," which is a nod to the classic movie Casablanca, from which the song takes its title. The lyrics paint a picture of two lovers who are still entranced by one another, regardless of how much time has passed. Ferry speaks of how love and passion are never out of date, and that despite the tumultuous nature of relationships that result in passion, jealousy, and hate, lovers will always find a way back to each other.
Ferry stresses that a woman needs a man, and vice versa, and that this connection between the sexes is an unbreakable bond that no one can deny. The song then hints at the universal nature of love and how regardless of where you are in the world, lovers are always welcomed with open arms. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of the steadfastness of love and how it remains an evergreen emotion that can last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
You must remember this
It's important to remember what I'm about to say.
A kiss is still a kiss
No matter what, a kiss will always be a kiss.
A sigh is just a sigh
A sigh doesn't necessarily mean anything more than just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
The basic principles still hold true.
As time goes by
Time passes, but what I'm saying remains true.
And when two lovers woo
When two people court each other.
They still say "I love you"
Those three words still hold their meaning.
On that you can rely
You can trust that to be true.
No matter what the future brings
Regardless of what happens next.
As time goes by
Again, time passes but I'm still talking about the present.
Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Romantic moments never go out of style.
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Emotions, positive or negative, still hold strong in people's hearts.
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
Men and women still need each other in a romantic sense.
That no one can deny
It's an undeniable fact.
It's still the same old story
The plot hasn't really changed.
A fight for love and glory
There's still a struggle to find and hold onto love.
A case of do or die
The fight for love has high stakes.
The world will always welcome lovers
The world will always accept those in love.
As time goes by
Once again, time is passing but what I'm saying is still true.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN HUPFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind