Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Annie Get Your Gun: They Say It's Wonderful
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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It's wonderful, so they say
And with the moon up above, it's wonderful
It's wonderful, so they tell me
I can't recall who said it
I know I've never read it
I only know they tell me that love is grand, and
Is wonderful, wonderful
In every way, so they say
To leave your house some morning
And without any warning, you're stopping people,
Shouting that love is grand, and
To hold a man in your arms is wonderful, wonderful
In every way, so they say
The lyrics to Irving Berlin's song "Annie Get Your Gun Medley" primarily focus on the idea of falling in love and how wonderful it can truly be. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "they say that falling in love is wonderful," with the singer acknowledging that they themselves have never experienced it, but have only ever heard about it. The moon is then used as a symbol of the romance and wonder associated with love. The repetition of "it's wonderful, so they tell me" reinforces the idea that the singer has only ever heard about love, but has never personally experienced it.
The song then continues to suggest that love can be grand and romantic, with the phrase "the thing that's known as romance is wonderful, wonderful." The idea of suddenly bursting out of one's house and proclaiming the wonders of love to all those around is also introduced, with the implication being that love can inspire one to do irrational yet exciting things. The song concludes with the singer musing on the wonders of holding a man in one's arms, and how wonderful that feels.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and its ability to inspire grand emotions and actions in individuals. It acknowledges that love may be something that is hard to explain in words, yet still manages to convey its beauty and significance through its lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that falling love is wonderful
People talk about how amazing it is to fall in love.
It's wonderful, so they say
They insist that it's an incredible experience.
And with the moon up above, it's wonderful
Even more magical with the moon in sight.
It's wonderful, so they tell me
Everyone keeps telling me how wonderful it is.
I can't recall who said it
I don't remember who it was that said it.
I know I've never read it
I have a feeling I never actually read it either.
I only know they tell me that love is grand, and
The only thing I know for sure is that people tell me how great love is.
The thing that's known as romance
The term that is commonly used to describe love and passion.
Is wonderful, wonderful
Is absolutely amazing.
In every way, so they say
According to everyone, it's fantastic in every way possible.
To leave your house some morning
One day, you might walk out of your house, and all of a sudden...
And without any warning, you're stopping people,
...you might start telling complete strangers...
Shouting that love is grand, and
...at the top of your lungs that love is incredible...
To hold a man in your arms is wonderful, wonderful
...and that being able to hold someone you love in your arms is beyond words amazing.
In every way, so they say
Just as everyone keeps saying, it's wonderful in every possible way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind