Melancholy Mood
Harry James & his Orchestra;Frank Sinatra Lyrics
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Steals upon me in the night, forever taunts me
Oh, what a lonely soul am I, stranded high and dry
By a melancholy mood
Gone is every joy and inspiration
Tears are all I have to show, no consolation
All I can see is grief and gloom, till the crack of doom
Deep in the night I search for a trace
Of a lingering kiss, a warm embrace
But love is a whimsy, as flimsy as lace
And my arms embrace an empty space
Melancholy mood, why must you blind me
Pity me and break the chains, the chains that bind me
Won't you release me, set me free, bring him back to me
Oh, melancholy mood
In Frank Sinatra's Melancholy Mood, the singer expresses how he is constantly haunted by a feeling of sadness that steals upon him in the night and forever taunts him. He is a lonely soul who feels stranded and helpless. The song is a lament for a lost love, and the lyrical content embodies the emptiness felt by someone who has lost the one they love. The chorus repeats the phrase "Oh, melancholy mood" in a despairing tone that conveys the depth of the singer's feelings.
The song describes how the character has lost all joy and inspiration; tears are all he has to show, and there is no consolation for his grief and gloom. He longs for love and warmth, but finds only emptiness in his search for it. The lyrics express a sense of hopelessness, with the singer feeling like he will never find happiness again.
The lyrics of Melancholy Mood were written by Vick R. Knight and Walter Schumann, and the song was recorded by Harry James and his Orchestra with vocals by a young Frank Sinatra in 1939. The song was later recorded by a number of other artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Bob Dylan. Sinatra's version of the song is notable for its gentle, melancholy tone and the singer's soulful delivery.
Line by Line Meaning
Melancholy mood forever haunts me
A deep sense of sadness overcomes me and never leaves.
Steals upon me in the night, forever taunts me
Overwhelming sadness comes into my life at night and never leaves.
Oh, what a lonely soul am I, stranded high and dry
I feel very alone and stuck without anywhere to turn.
By a melancholy mood
This sadness seems to be the root of the problem.
Gone is every joy and inspiration
All the things that used to make me happy or inspire me are now gone.
Tears are all I have to show, no consolation
All that's left is sadness that only brings tears, with no comfort.
All I can see is grief and gloom, till the crack of doom
There is no hope or happiness in sight, ever.
Deep in the night I search for a trace
Even in the darkness I search for any hint of happiness.
Of a lingering kiss, a warm embrace
I search for memories of love and physical contact.
But love is a whimsy, as flimsy as lace
Love is unpredictable, and can disappoint or vanish like fragile lace.
And my arms embrace an empty space
I am left hugging nothing.
Melancholy mood, why must you blind me
The sadness makes it impossible to see or understand anything else.
Pity me and break the chains, the chains that bind me
I hope this sadness will be lifted and I will be free from it.
Won't you release me, set me free, bring him back to me
I beg for the sadness to lift, for the love I have lost to return to me.
Oh, melancholy mood
This all-consuming sadness is the dominating feeling.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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