Tangerine
Helen O Connell Lyrics


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Tangerine,
She is all they claim
With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
Tangerine,
When she dances by
Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
And I've seen
Toasts to Tangerine
Raised in every bar across the Argentine
Yes, she has them all on the run
But her heart belongs to just one
Her heart belongs to Tangerine

Tangerine,
She is all they say
With mascara'd eye and chapeaux by Dache.
Tangerine,
With her lips of flame
If the color keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame.
And I've seen
Clothes on Tangerine
Where the label says "From Macy's Mezzanine".
Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl




But she's only fooling one girl
She's only fooling Tangerine!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Helen O Connell's song 'Tangerine' depict the titular character as a desirable woman, with 'eyes of night and lips as bright as a flame.' She is often the center of attention, with men and women alike admiring her beauty and grace, sighing and staring as she dances by. The song mentions toasts being raised to Tangerine in bars across Argentina, emphasizing her widespread appeal. However, despite having so many admirers, Tangerine's heart belongs to just one person, herself. She is shown to be perhaps somewhat vain, concerned with her appearance, with her clothes having labels saying 'From Macy's Mezzanine,' and her chapeaux being by Dache.


The song's lyrics highlight the superficial nature of Tangerine's appeal, as backed up by her heart belonging only to herself. Her beauty is portrayed as a facade, with her lips being 'of flame' and her mascara'd eyes making her appear to be something that she perhaps isn't. The song also suggests that, while Tangerine may have men 'in a whirl,' she is ultimately misleading in her relationships with other women, including possibly fooling herself. The song's metaphorical use of 'Tangerine' is also noteworthy, as it is less a name than a symbol of a type of individual. The woman that the character regards as 'Tangerine' is not defined by her actions, but by the reactions she provokes in others.


Line by Line Meaning

Tangerine,
Introducing the song and subject, Tangerine


She is all they claim
Tangerine is everything that is said about her


With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
She has dark and captivating eyes and bright, stunning lips


Tangerine,
Repeating the introduction to Tangerine


When she dances by
As Tangerine dances, something happens


Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
Women look at her and men become swoony


And I've seen
The singer has experienced something firsthand


Toasts to Tangerine
Celebratory speeches made in honor of Tangerine


Raised in every bar across the Argentine
These speeches happen in every bar throughout Argentina


Yes, she has them all on the run
Tangerine has everyone chasing after her


But her heart belongs to just one
Tangerine only loves one person


Her heart belongs to Tangerine
She loves herself, and that's it


Tangerine,
Repeating the introduction once again


She is all they say
Tangerine lives up to her reputation


With mascara'd eye and chapeaux by Dache.
She wears makeup and high-end hats


Tangerine,
Repeating the introduction for the third and final time


With her lips of flame
Her lips are fiery and alluring


If the color keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame.
If her lipstick doesn't come off, it's the fault of the makeup brand, Louis Philippe


And I've seen
Repeating the idea of witnessing something firsthand


Clothes on Tangerine
Outfits worn by Tangerine


Where the label says "From Macy's Mezzanine".
Her clothing comes from a specific department in Macy's


Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl
She has men confused and spinning in circles


But she's only fooling one girl
She's only tricking herself


She's only fooling Tangerine!
Reiterating that Tangerine is only trying to fool herself




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER, VICTOR SCHERTZINGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@CuppaTeaandaSliceoCake

Wonderful ... thank you very much indeed.

@markbrown8003

That songstress is utterly gorgeous. Professional and a star.

@rudygleiss2834

Love big bands

@lorencast

I love Bob Eberly voice and that beautiful smile❀❀

@potdog1000

Timeless in every sense, the music the singin, her beauty. especially her beauty

@richardgornalle4536

I really liked this film clip. A terrific song played and sung by many. Great stuff.

@clemjunior4067

I love this music. Especially the song with Bob Eberly and Helen O'Conner or O'Connell.

@charlesclark7350

Saw Jimmy Dorsey in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1980s. I had a hard time keeping from dancing in the aisle. What a nice concert, everybody else sat on their hands, I guess everybody was afraid of what folks would think of them.

@ruthhellkamp926

i rmember as a little kid hearing this..and i thought Helen was the prettiest lady in the movies.

@markherron1407

Happy Centennial milestone and Frances Langford brought me here Blessings and Hugs πŸ’–πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•

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