the way we were
Dave Koz & Vanessa Williams Lyrics


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Memories light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?

Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember




The way we were
The way we were

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dave Koz and Vanessa Williams’ song “The Way We Were” is an ode to memories, both beautiful and painful. The first stanza talks about how memories can be like faint lights in the corners of our minds, and how certain memories, like misty watercolors, can bear the vivid colors of our past. The “scattered pictures of the smiles” that the singer and the addressee have left behind are presented as tokens of their past, which were given to each other for the sake of their shared history.


The second stanza then contemplates whether the past really was as simple as they remember it to be, or whether time has rewritten every line of that past. The singer then asks a poignant question: if they had the chance to live through it again, would they? It is a question that speaks to the doubt that often clouds our perception of the past. The final stanza speaks about how remembering the smiles and the laughter is the best way to remember the past, and how forgetting the pains is often necessary to be able to do so.


In a way, the song “The Way We Were” is a heartfelt tribute to the memories that we all hold dear, both good and bad. It speaks of the inevitability of change and how sometimes, it is easier to simply move on and focus on the good times than to dwell too much on the bad. It is a song that reminds us to cherish the moments that we share with the ones we love, because those moments are what we take with us as we live out the rest of our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Memories light the corners of my mind
Recollections brighten the edges of my thoughts


Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Hazy, watercolor-esque memories of the past As it unfolded.


Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Dispersed snapshots of the joy we experienced Together.


Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
Smiles we exchanged to celebrate what we Had become.


Can it be that it was all so simple then
Could it be true that it was all quite uncomplicated back then.


Or has time rewritten every line
Or has time altered every bit of our story.


If we had the chance to do it all again
If we were granted an opportunity to experience What we once had all over again.


Tell me, would we?
Tell me, would we relive our previous memories?


Could we?
Could we truly go back to how things used to be?


Memories may be beautiful and yet
Reminiscences may appear delightful However,


What's too painful to remember
What is Too painful to carve in our minds


We simply choose to forget
We merely opt to forget it.


So it's the laughter we will remember
Therefore, we will hold on to the memories that once brought us joy.


Whenever we remember
Whenever we cast our minds back.


The way we were
The way things were between us in the past.


The way we were
The way things were between us in the past.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Marcel20658

I am a huge Burt Bacharach fan, but this song is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Each time when i hear this great song there are always tears in my eyes! Well done by Dave Koz and Vanessa Williams! So much emotions and feeling in this great gem!

@runnerlegend7726

Vanessa Williams can sing anything! Jazz, Broadway musicals, R&B, Soul, pop music. he can also act too. A phenomenally talented woman!

@DomoniqueStewart3936

I KNOW, RIGHT? SHE'S SINGS LIVE, NOT LIPSYNC. TRUST ME. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE VANESSA L. WILLIAMS SO VERY MUCH, ALRIGHT? SHE'S THE BEST SUPERTALENTED SINGER/ACTRESS IN THE WORLD. ❤ I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER.

@bobby12348

Yes 👍🏿

@josephhunter1959

Tears just flows from my eyes whenever I hear this Queen sings. When you want to just sit back and relax, put anyone of her tracks on, sit back, close your eyes, and watch what happens. Why do you think that many women haven't done ( and WILL NOT DO ) duets, trios, neither quartets with my Queen commercially?

@RonnieStewartJr

This woman is a goddess. I have a nostalgic attachment to her because she was the Queen of Trash in Elmo in Grouchland, and everything I’ve seen of her is stellar to say the least. She’s ALWAYS been a queen to me, nothing trashy about it!!!!

@shawnwomack3446

Vanessa Williams voice sounds so angelic on this song, expecially at the beginning. Dave Koz adds a smooth sax solo to the song along with Ms. williams voice which makes it one of the best cover songs that I have heard of this song. Just beautiful

@runwayprotocol4580

She sings effortlessly....such a beautiful voice and so well-suited to this song.

@TJKillip

and at her absolute hottest too '-)

@gregorymalone71

Vanessa Williams easily one of the best singers ever.

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