Lombardo formed The Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen Lombardo, Lebert Lombardo, and Victor Lombardo and other musicians from his hometown. Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven." The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million phonograph records during their lifetimes.
Speak Low
Guy Lombardo Lyrics
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Our summer day withers away
Too soon, too soon.
Speak low when you speak, love,
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
We're swept apart too soon.
Speak low, darling speak low,
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
I feel wherever I go
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
And always too soon.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
We're late darling, we're late,
The curtain descends, everything ends
Too soon, too soon,
I wait darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me and soon.
The lyrics of Guy Lombardo's song "Speak Low" speak of the fleeting, ephemeral nature of love and how easily it can be lost. The singer urges his lover to speak quietly and tenderly, as they savor every moment together. He describes their time together as swift and brief, like ships adrift, and laments that love is often lost too soon.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of time and its relationship to love. The singer acknowledges that time is old and love is brief, and that love is like pure gold that can be stolen by time, which he personifies as a thief. He bemoans the fact that everything ends too soon, and that the curtain is descending on their love story.
Despite the sadness and melancholy that permeate the lyrics, there is also a sense of hope and longing. The singer implores his lover to speak low and to speak love to him, as though he knows that their time together is precious and must be cherished. He waits for her to do so, even though he knows that everything will eventually come to an end.
Overall, "Speak Low" is a poignant and bittersweet reflection on the transience of love and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak low when you speak, love,
Lower your voice when you speak about love, as it is fragile and fleeting.
Our summer day withers away
Our time together is disappearing, like a flower that wilts in the heat of summer.
Too soon, too soon.
Our time is limited, and it is ending too quickly for us to enjoy it fully.
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
Our time together is passing quickly, like a ship that is being carried away by the current.
We're swept apart too soon.
Our separation is coming too soon, before we can make the most of our time together.
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Love is a small, flickering flame that can disappear if not nurtured and protected.
I feel wherever I go
No matter where I am, I am aware that time is running out and our time together is limited.
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
The future is always looming, and our time together is coming to an end.
And always too soon.
Our time together seems to be slipping away faster than we can keep up with it.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Time is a long and ancient concept, while love is short-lived and fleeting.
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
Love is a valuable and precious thing, while time takes it away too quickly.
We're late darling, we're late,
We have not made the most of our time together, and now it is slipping away too soon.
The curtain descends, everything ends
The end is near, and everything will soon come to a close.
Too soon, too soon,
Our time together is coming to an end too quickly.
I wait darling, I wait
I am hoping that we can make the most of our time together before it is too late.
Will you speak low to me,
Can you speak to me about love in a gentle and delicate way, taking care not to let our time slip away too quickly?
Speak love to me and soon.
Speak to me about love quickly, before our time together comes to an end.
Lyrics © Music Hub O/B/O GEMA, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Follo
It's too bad that the recording ban prevented RCA and Columbia from committing this great song to disc. Imagine what the young Sinatra could have done with it using a full orchestra and one of Stordahl's gorgeous arrangements. Thanks for everything, Mr. Petrillo!
Federico Ramírez
It is a pity: greed beats art.
Anyway, it's a beautiful song and a great performance. Sigh.
Richard Dixon
A perfect recording from start to finish!
K Hussein
beautiful!
Thiago Drauer
Why is this called fox-trot??