Memory
Dennis DeYoung Lyrics
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Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp shutters
And soon it will be morning
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look
A new day has begun
Dennis DeYoung's "Memory" is a poignant and reflective song that explores memories, changing times and emotions. The first verse of the song starts with a rather melancholic atmosphere that sets the stage for the narrative, with the singer finding himself alone on the street walking on withered leaves while the wind moans. There is a sense of loneliness and contemplation that is created by the setting, and the moon's smile, that once brought comfort and light, now serves as a reminder of times past.
The chorus, "Memory, all alone in the moonlight", takes the listener on a journey of nostalgia, where they look back at the past with a sense of longing and remembrance. The singer reflects on his youth when he knew what happiness felt like, and he wants to relive those memories. The lyrics suggest that memories, though sometimes painful, can offer comfort to the present and provide the motivation to move forward. The final verse begins with the dawning of a new day, symbolizing the idea of hope and the possibility of starting anew.
Overall, "Memory" is a song that conveys a strong message about the power of memories and how they shape our present and future. It poignantly captures the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, the longing for the past, and the hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight
The start of the night
Not a sound from the pavement
The streets are empty and silent
Has the moon lost her memory?
Wondering if the moon remembers his past
She is smiling alone
The moon is by herself but appears to be happy
In the lamplight
The only light is coming from the street lamps
The withered leaves collect at my feet
The leaves are dying and accumulating on the ground by his feet
And the wind begins to moan
The wind is making a sad sound
Memory
Thinking back on past memories
All alone in the moonlight
Being by himself under the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
He can still look back at the positive memories and smile
I was beautiful then
He felt good about himself in the past
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Reflecting on previous times when he felt truly happy
Let the memory live again
He wants to keep the positive memories with him and not forget them
Every streetlamp
Each one of the street lamps
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
The street lamps appear to be signaling something negative
Someone mutters
A person is muttering something under their breath
And the streetlamp shutters
The street lamp flickers or flashes quickly
And soon it will be morning
Morning is approaching quickly
Daylight
The start of a new day
I must wait for the sunrise
He has to wait for the sunrise to start the new day
I must think of a new life
He has to contemplate how he'll spend his new day and make a new start
And I musn't give in
He cannot give up or quit
When the dawn comes
Once the sun rises
Tonight will be a memory too
The night will become a memory just like previous nights
And a new day will begin
A fresh start and new day will start
Burnt out ends of smoky days
Feeling exhausted after a trying day
The stale cold smell of morning
The morning is not starting off with a fresh or invigorating feeling
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
The street lamp has gone out, signaling that the night is over
Another day is dawning
A new day has started
Touch me
Asking someone to physically touch him
It's so easy to leave me
He's easily left behind and forgotten
All alone with the memory
He's by himself with his memories
Of my days in the sun
He looks back on happy and bright moments
If you touch me
Being vulnerable and open to someone
You'll understand what happiness is
His happiness is tied to physical touch and interaction
Look
Pay attention
A new day has begun
Emphasizing that a fresh start has started
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Eliot, Zdenek Hruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind