Shanghai
Doris Day with Paul Weston and his Orchestra Lyrics

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Who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Tonight

Why did I tell you I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
Why did I holler I was goin' to Shanghai

I want to be with you tonight

It was just a little misunderstanding
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
I need you so badly
I'd gladly start all over from scratch

Oh, why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device

Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight

Now why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lovers device

Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight

Who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight

I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna, yes I wanna, I wanna be with you tonight

Overall Meaning

Dear Doris Day,

The song "Shanghai" by Paul Weston and his Orchestra tells the story of a man who regrets telling his loved one that he was going to Shanghai. He longs to be with her and wonders who will kiss, thrill, and hold him tight tonight. The man recognizes that their separation was due to a small misunderstanding that could have been resolved with a kiss on the cheek. He laments that he needs her so badly and wishes to start all over from scratch. The repeated question of "Why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai?" coupled with the admission that he is even allergic to rice reveals that his departure was nothing but a lover's device. The man is right around the corner in a phone booth and wants nothing more than to be with his loved one that very night.

The song captures the essence of a longing heart and the pain that comes with separation. It highlights the power of a simple kiss and the deep love that the man has for his loved one. Ultimately, it speaks to the desire to be with the one we love, no matter the distance or circumstance.

Line by Line Meaning

Who's gonna kiss me
Who will give me a kiss?

Who's gonna thrill me
Who will excite me?

Who's gonna hold me tight
Who will hold me firmly?

Why did I tell you I was goin' to Shanghai
Why did I lie about leaving for Shanghai?

I want to be with you tonight
I want to spend tonight with you

It was just a little misunderstanding
It was a small miscommunication

That a kiss on the cheek could patch
A sign of affection could fix it

I need you so badly
I really need you

I'd gladly start all over from scratch
I am willing to start again from the beginning

Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
Why don't you correct me when I lie about leaving?

It's just a lover's device
It's just a tactic to be with the one I love