Memories Of You
Frank Sinatra/Nelson & Orchestra Riddle Lyrics
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Every sunset too
Seems to be bringing me
Memories of you
Here and there, everywhere
Scenes that we once knew
And they all just recall
How I wish I could forget those
Those happy yesteryears
That have left a rosary of tears
Your face beams in my dreams
'Spite of all I do
Everything seems to bring
Memories of you
And your face beams in my dreams
'Spite of all I do
Everything seems to bring
Memories, just memories of you
In Frank Sinatra's song Memories of You, the singer describes the constant presence of memories of a past love. The opening lines set the tone and repetition of the theme with "Waking skies at sunrise / Every sunset too / Seems to be bringing me / Memories of you." These lines convey that the memory of the loved one is ever-present, and not only do specific events trigger memories, but even the natural phenomenon of the sunrise and sunset bring back the pain of that lost love.
In the next stanza, the singer expands on this idea, stating "Here and there, everywhere / Scenes that we once knew / And they all just recall / Memories of you." Not only are specific events and times triggering memories, but also any place that the singer and their loved one shared together. The memories are so ingrained with every scene that the singer encounters, that even the most mundane of places evoke emotions and memories of the lost love.
The chorus of the song then reveals the inner turmoil caused by these memories, as the singer longs to forget those "happy yesteryears / that have left a rosary of tears." However, the memories are so persistent that even when trying to forget, they continue to come back in dreams and through everyday occurrences. The song ultimately conveys the deep, unshakeable pain of lost love and the inability to forget, no matter how hard one tries.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking skies at sunrise
The breaking of dawn reminds me of you.
Every sunset too
Even the end of day reminds me that you're not with me.
Seems to be bringing me
It feels like everything is just constantly reminding me of you.
Memories of you
The only thing I'm left with are memories of us together.
Here and there, everywhere
No matter where I go or what I do, I can't escape the memories of you.
Scenes that we once knew
Every place I used to visit with you now only serves as a reminder of what we had and what we lost.
And they all just recall
Everything I see and experience just serves to bring back memories of you.
Memories of you
All I'm left with are these memories of you, and it's breaking my heart.
How I wish I could forget those
I wish I could erase those happy memories of the past that now only cause me pain.
Those happy yesteryears
The times we spent together that were full of joy and love.
That have left a rosary of tears
Those happy memories are now only causing me pain and tears.
Your face beams in my dreams
Even in my dreams, your face is still present and serves to remind me of what I've lost.
'Spite of all I do
No matter what I try to do to forget you, you continue to haunt me.
Everything seems to bring
Everything I see or do just calls to mind memories of you.
Memories of you
No matter how hard I try, all I have left are these memories of you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JohnByrneatPoetsandQuants
Bob, this is superb. Love the way Frank's voice is so forward.
@bobzwol
John, Thank you so much for stopping by and giving it a listen! Much appreciated! I actually cut Frank's vocal by 20% at the beginning, but gradually raised it back to 100% when Nelson Riddle's orchestra started winding up. I also expanded the dynamic range on Frank's vocal to make it more "forward", as the original recording was compressed for LP mastering. Thanks again for stopping by! So glad you liked it!
Plus, it helps to have been recorded on the very best vacuum-tube equipment that ever existed on the planet at the brand-new Capitol Studios in Hollywood!
@JohnByrneatPoetsandQuants
@Bob Zwolinski That is brilliant engineering work. The Sinatra Family should hire you to remaster LPs that have yet to go through the process.
@bobzwol
@John Byrne Thank you John for that great compliment!! I actually live less than 2 miles from where Frank Sinatra and his family are buried. I visit his grave often when I ride my bicycle. Here is a video I made of the cemetery and his grave-site https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXt7uII9-6M&t=69s
@PeterDIMLER
Thank you Bob Zwolinski for the great job you do on these great Mono recordings. Always pointing out the fine and talented Sound Engineers and equipment that were used during these recordings! May i just point out an error that this recording was shelved until 2015. it was actually included on 'THE RARE SINATRA' LP long before..on Capitol E-ST 24311...in 1959, and then again on the 3 CD compilation "The Capitol Years", released for his 75th birthday in 1990. and on the re-release CD of 'THE RARE SINATRA' with added tracks 1997. Keep up the great job you do with so much passion!
@bobzwol
Thank you Peter for stopping by and giving it a listen! Glad you appreciated it!
I got the history of this song from Wikipedia, which is not always correct. I'll make the change in my comments.
Thanks again!
@PeterDIMLER
@Bob Zwolinski I did more then listen to it i posted your link on the Forever Frank facebook for all the Sinatra fans!....
@bobzwol
@Peter DIMLER Thank you so much, Peter! You're the greatest!
@bobzwol
@Peter DIMLER I just posted my latest Frank/Nelson mono-to-stereo conversion: "Old Devil Moon". You'll like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KRfiPsatyg
@PeterDIMLER
@Bob Zwolinski I did! i did!