Back to Back
Glenn Miller and his Orchestra Lyrics
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That's the day you promised to come back to me
When you whispered, "Farewell" in Capistrano
T'was the day the swallows flew out to the sea
All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me!
The lyrics to Glenn Miller and his Orchestra's song, "Back to Back," refer to the annual migration of swallows to Capistrano and a promise of love. The singer tells the listener that they promised to come back on the day the swallows return to the area. The day the listener said farewell in Capistrano was also the day the swallows left for the sea, which symbolizes the listener's departure from the singer's life. However, the singer believes that the listener will come back to them when the swallows return.
The lyrics also mention the ringing of mission bells, singing of the chapel choir, and the happiness that the return of the listener will bring. The singer believes that the memory of this happiness will be with them forever. The song's lyrics are both romantic and melancholy, expressing the hope that lost love can be regained.
Line by Line Meaning
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
The singer is using the return of the swallows to Capistrano as a symbol of hope and a signpost to the day that his/her loved one will return.
That's the day you promised to come back to me
The singer is reminding his/her loved one of the promise made to return on the day the swallows come back to Capistrano.
When you whispered, "Farewell" in Capistrano
The singer recalls the bittersweet goodbye in Capistrano, which was made in the shadow of the swallows, and laments that it is the memory he/she has of the place.
T'was the day the swallows flew out to the sea
The swallows flying out to sea, the day after the goodbye, is a symbol of the singer's love flying away with the departing loved one.
All the mission bells will ring
The mission bells ringing marks the joyous return of the swallows and symbolizes the hope of the singer's loved one returning as promised.
The chapel choir will sing
The chapel choir singing further emphasizes the joy of the return of the swallows and suggests that the singer's loved one's return will also be a cause for celebration.
The happiness you'll bring
The happiness that the singer's loved one will bring is likened to that which the returning swallows bring - a sense of renewal and joyfulness.
Will live in my memory
The singer will always cherish the memory of the happiness his/her loved one brought, even if they never return.
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
The song ends on a hopeful note - the singer's prayer that his/her loved one will return on the day the swallows come back to Capistrano, just as promised.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: LEON RENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind