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.
Be Careful It's My Heart
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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Sweetheart of mine, it's more than a valentine
Be careful, it's my heart
It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart
It's not the note I sent you that you quickly burned
It's not the book I lent you that you never returned
Remember it's my heart
The heart with which so willingly I part
But please, before you start
Be careful, it's my heart
In this song, the singer is warning their significant other to be careful with their heart. They have sent a valentine which signifies their love, but they want to make sure that their heart is not taken advantage of. The singer emphasizes that what their significant other has in their hands is not a watch or a note, but rather their heart. They bring up the fact that the significant other has already burned a note and has not returned a book, which is a metaphor for the pain inflicted upon the singer's heart. The singer is willingly giving their heart to their significant other, but they urge them to be careful with it since it is fragile.
The song captures the fear and vulnerability that come with being in love. The use of the metaphor is effective in conveying the message since it creates a visual image for the listener. The singer's plea to be careful is a reminder that even though love is beautiful, it can also be painful. The song delivers a message of caution and serves as a warning to those in love to be careful so as not to hurt one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweetheart of mine, I've sent you a valentine
Beloved, I have expressed my love to you through the gift of a Valentine's Day card
Sweetheart of mine, it's more than a valentine
My affection for you surpasses mere sentimentality conveyed through a card
Be careful, it's my heart
Please handle my love and affection tenderly, as it is valuable and fragile
It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart
What you possess is not a mere object, but my deepest emotions and feelings for you
It's not the note I sent you that you quickly burned
The paper I sent to you containing my words should not be confused with the passion and intensity behind those words
It's not the book I lent you that you never returned
The book that remains in your possession is interchangeable, but the love I have gifted you is irreplaceable
Remember it's my heart
Please do not forget the significance and depth of my love
The heart with which so willingly I part
The love I offer you is freely given and open, but with the possibility of heartbreak
It's yours to take to keep or break
I leave it to you to accept, cherish, and preserve my love, or to disregard and crush it
But please, before you start
With great humility and tenderness, I implore you to take a moment to consider my feelings before acting
Be careful, it's my heart
Once more, I urge you to handle my sincere emotions with delicacy and empathy
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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“IT’S♥️MY♥️HEART”