Tangerine
Dorsey Jimmy Lyrics


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Tangerine
She is all they claim
With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
Tangerine
When she dances by
Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
And I've seen
Toasts to Tangerine
Raised in every bar across the Argentine
Yes, she has them all on the run
But her heart belongs to just one
Her heart belongs to Tangerine

Tangerine
She is all they say
With mascara'd eye and chapeaux by Dache
Tangerine
With her lips of flame
If the colour keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame
And I've seen
Clothes on Tangerine
Where the label says "From Macy's Mezzanine"
Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl




But she's only fooling one girl
She's only fooling Tangerine!

Overall Meaning

In "Tangerine," Dorsey Jimmy offers a tribute to a stunning woman that captures everyone's attention, rightfully so. The lyrics describe how Tangerine causes men to swoon and women to feel envious of her beauty. Her piercing eyes and scorching lips make her the center of attention wherever she goes. Her dance moves leave senoritas staring and caballeros sighing, with everyone in Argentina raising a toast to her at every bar. Despite all the attention she commands, she has one person on her mind, and that person is herself. She is "only fooling Tangerine."


The lyrics portray Tangerine as a confident and self-assured woman who knows that she's got it all. She seems to enjoy the attention and admiration she receives from everyone, but she's only interested in her own pleasures. The song's reference to the designer labels and cosmetics she uses highlights her materialistic nature. Despite all these, Tangerine prefers to keep her heart to herself, and she doesn't allow anyone to take advantage of her. Overall, the song's lyrics convey a sense of admiration and fascination with a beautiful, confident, and independent woman.


Line by Line Meaning

Tangerine,
Introducing the subject of the song, a woman named Tangerine.


She is all they claim
Tangerine lives up to the hype that surrounds her.


With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
Tangerine has striking, attention-grabbing physical features.


Tangerine, When she dances by
Tangerine is known for her captivating dance moves.


Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
Her dancing is so mesmerizing that the women and men watching her are left in awe.


And I've seen Toasts to Tangerine
People frequently make toasts in honor of Tangerine.


Raised in every bar across the Argentine
The people of Argentina all know and adore Tangerine.


Yes, she has them all on the run
Tangerine has a powerful effect on those around her and has them under her spell.


But her heart belongs to just one
Despite the attention from others, Tangerine is only interested in one person.


Her heart belongs to Tangerine
The object of Tangerine's affection is herself, as the line is a play on words.


Tangerine, She is all they say
Reiterating that Tangerine does, in fact, live up to her reputation.


With mascara'd eye and chapeaux by Dache.
Tangerine takes great care in her appearance and is often seen wearing high-end fashion.


Tangerine, With her lips of flame
Once again referencing Tangerine's standout, fiery features.


If the color keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame.
If Tangerine's lipstick stays vibrant for a long time, the fault falls on the cosmetic brand Louis Philippe.


And I've seen Clothes on Tangerine
Tangerine has a keen sense of style and wears fashionable clothing.


Where the label says "From Macy's Mezzanine".
Her clothes sometimes come from Macy's Mezzanine, a department store in New York.


Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl
Tangerine has a way of entrancing and bewildering the men around her.


But she's only fooling one girl
All of Tangerine's charms are just a facade to impress one specific woman.


She's only fooling Tangerine!
As hinted earlier, the woman Tangerine is trying to impress and win over is none other than herself.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@renatonunes2550

It amazes me how the younger American generations are so ignorant of such beautiful music like this and all the Big Band Era's great melodies and songs. They have no idea what they are missing. SUCH BEAUTY ! 🥲

@moonglows1

Good morning: I never reply to any comments but I am compelled to do so with yours: I was a high school history teacher for 35 years and I used all kinds of music to "teach" my students depending on the era, etc...yes, it is certainly sad that our youth has no appreciation for this wonderful music, but in my classes and when I played this music, the response was amazing. Over the years I accumulated thousands of original songs, artists, etc...and now I go around and entertain seniors with what I accumulated. I could go on, but you are totally "right -on" (expression from my time). Besides, Helen O'Connell...what a "dish!" I've had a crush on her since I discovered her. I spend hours on YouTube searching for clips, songs, etc... you'd be surprised if you saw how many of our young people love this music if it is exposed to them in the correct context. Music is the poetry of our souls.

@thenevadadesertrat2713

This cuts two ways. The younger generation thinks the same of us (I am 900.

@davidbrown7546

⁠Oh my. Older than Methuselah. Congrats. You got me beat by 818 years!

@Postumeartist

Actually, you can thank video games for getting the younger generation back into this music. While satellite radio got me started into it, a couple of very popular video games got even more kids into it.

If this were on the radio more where I live, I’d listen to it consistently.

@user-uy2vj5xe8l

Archie Bunker sings this song when meathead offers him money

3 More Replies...

@powers1079

Bob Eberly grew up in Hoosick Falls, NY and my grandparents loved his music and were good friends with his brother Al Eberly and his wife Anne. Bob's niece Joanne is a friend of my mother and went to school together at Hoosick Fall Central School. Bob returned to Hoosick Falls in 1977 for a homecoming concert at St. Mary's school. My grandparents sat with the Eberly family and Bob came over to where they were sitting and talked with them at the end of the concert. It was very memorable for my grandparents.

@michelleleeschaeffer3482

That’s awesome! My grandpa Bob took me to hoo sick falls that years. I had a blast running through the corn fields!!

@mikeappignani4383

I'm 60 years 🧓 old MY Dad And His Buddies Would Listen 👂 to All These wonderful songs. I'm From East Boston. They would All Sing Along IN A social club In Maverick Square. Most of Them Were ww2 Veterans. And Long shore Men. AND MERCHANTS MARINES. GOD I LOVED EVERYONE OF THEM GUYS .THEY WERE THE GREATEST GENERATION. BY FAR.THANKYOU GOD FOR LETTING ME GET TO KNOW THEM.

@christinemiller1735

I was born in 59 and love this song 🎵❤
Such a beautiful classic song 🎵

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