Edgar Yipsel Harburg (April 8, 1896 – March 4, 1981), known as E.Y. Harburg… Read Full Bio ↴Edgar Yipsel Harburg (April 8, 1896 – March 4, 1981), known as E.Y. Harburg or Yip Harburg, was an American popular song lyricist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", "April in Paris", and "It's Only a Paper Moon", as well as all of the songs in The Wizard of Oz, including "Over the Rainbow".

April in Paris
E.Y. Harburg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

April in Paris
Chestnuts in blossoms
Holiday tables
Under the trees
April in Paris
This is a feeling
No one can ever
Reprise

I never knew the charm of spring
Never met it face to face
I never new my heart could sing
Never missed a warm embrace

'Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What have you done to
My heart

I never knew the charm of spring
Never met it face to face
I never new my heart could sing
Never missed a warm embrace

'Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to

What have you done to
My heart

Overall Meaning

The song "April in Paris" written by E.Y. Harburg is a classic tune that celebrates the arrival of spring in the French capital. The lyrics paint a vivid image of a beautiful and romantic scene with chestnuts in blossom, holiday tables spread out under the trees, and an indescribable feeling in the air that cannot be replicated. The song highlights the transformation that the city undergoes during the season of renewal and how it has a profound impact on the writer, who never knew the charm of the spring or the happiness that comes with it until he experienced it in Paris.

The writer questions who he can run to and what has been done to his heart now that he has experienced the charm of spring in Paris. The song suggests that this experience has brought about feelings of joy, happiness, and renewal that leave him feeling overwhelmed and searching for solace. The lyrics are simple yet very powerful, and help capture the beauty and excitement of spring time in Paris.

Line by Line Meaning

April in Paris
Experiencing April in the beautiful city of Paris

Chestnuts in blossoms
Seeing chestnut trees in full bloom

Holiday tables
Enjoying festive and celebratory meals

Under the trees
Sitting outside surrounded by nature

This is a feeling
The experience is more than just a physical manifestation, it's an emotional feeling

No one can ever
The feeling is unique and can never be duplicated

Reprise
To repeat or reenact the experience

I never knew the charm of spring
The singer never fully realized the beauty and allure of spring until their time in Paris

Never met it face to face
The singer had never experienced spring so fully and intimately

I never new my heart could sing
The singer had never felt such emotional and physical happiness

Never missed a warm embrace
The singer had never been so content and didn't even realize they were missing anything previously

'Till April in Paris
Until the singer experienced the beauty and magic of Paris in April

Whom can I run to
The singer is so overwhelmed by the newfound happiness that they feel they need someone to share it with

What have you done to
Paris has had such an incredible impact on the singer that they can't even fully understand or articulate it

My heart
The singer's emotions are a result of the extraordinary experience in Paris

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: E. Y. HARBURG, VERNON DUKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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