The Man I Love
Dick Hyman & Ruby Braff Lyrics
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I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more!"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my!
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now,
How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet, I repeat,
How long has this been going on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
What a break!
For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
What a break!
For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, been going on?
The lyrics to "The Man I Love" by Dick Hyman and Ruby Braff describe a woman's journey from a young child to an adult who has never been kissed. The opening lines reveal that as a child, she was kissed by her sisters, cousins, and aunties, and she found it to be an awful experience. So, she vowed to never kiss anyone again. However, as she grows older, the woman regrets her decision and feels like she has missed out on something special. She wonders why it took her so long to realize the joy of kissing and questions how long this feeling has been inside her.
The second verse talks about the physical and emotional sensations that come with finally experiencing a kiss. She feels chills up her spine and thrills she cannot define. She compares the feeling to that of Columbus discovering a new world. The woman urges the person she's with to kiss her again and again, savoring the moment and not waking her up if she happens to be dreaming.
Overall, the song is about regret and the beauty of experiencing something special for the first time. It also conveys a message that it's never too late to start over and cherish moments that life offers.
Line by Line Meaning
As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties
When I was a child, even in my youngest, most innocent moments
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties
I received kisses from my female family members
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's
Unfortunately, these kisses were not enjoyable and caused me great discomfort
So my dear I swore, 'Never, never more!'
As a result, I vowed to never engage in kissing again
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out
I made a conscious decision to strike kissing from my personal list of acceptable activities
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
Looking back, I realize that my aversion to kissing caused me to miss out on something special
I could cry salty tears, Where have I been all these years?
I am overwhelmed with emotion now that I have experienced the joy of kissing after avoiding it for so long
Little wow, tell me now, How long has this been going on?
I am asking how long this newfound enjoyment of kissing has been present in my life
There were chills up my spine, And some thrills I can't define
My body was filled with excitement that I cannot fully express or understand
Listen, sweet, I repeat, How long has this been going on?
I am repeating my earlier question, asking once again how long I have been missing out on this pleasure
Oh, I feel that I could melt, Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I am overwhelmed with joy and ecstasy, feeling as if I am experiencing something heavenly and otherworldly
I know how Columbus felt, Finding another world
I feel a sense of awe and discovery, just like Columbus did when he discovered a new world
Kiss me once, then once more. What a dunce I was before
I am asking my partner to kiss me again, feeling foolish for not wanting to engage in kissing earlier
What a break! For Heaven's sake! How long has this been going on?
I am expressing my excitement and disbelief at my newfound enjoyment of kissing, again questioning how long I have been missing out
Dear, when in your arms I creep, That divine rendezvous
When I am close to my partner, it feels like a heavenly encounter
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep, Let me dream that it's true!
I am asking to be left alone if I am sleeping, wanting to continue dreaming of this wonderful experience
Kiss me twice, then once more. That makes thrice, let's make it four!
I am eager to continue kissing my partner, wanting to make up for all the time I missed out on it
How long has this been going on? How long has this, been going on?
Once again, I am questioning how long I have been unaware of the joy of kissing
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