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.
How About Me
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too long I held you close to my heart
Too much I loved you right from the start
Too soon you vanished out of my dreams
Too late to start all over it seems
[Refrain:]
It's over, all over
And soon somebody else
But how about me?
It's over, all over
And soon somebody else
Will tell his friends about you
But how about me?
You'll find somebody new
But what am I to do?
I'll still remember you
When you have forgotten
And maybe a baby
Will climb upon your knee
And put its arms about you
But how about me?
[2nd verse:]
Moonlight was beaming down from the skies
Lovelight was gleaming deep in your eyes
Sunlight for just a moment and then
Twilight and I was lonely again
[Alternate line:]
Will tell the world about you
The lyrics to Irving Berlin's song "How About Me?" delve into the emotions of heartbreak and longing after a failed relationship. The singer reflects on a past love, expressing regret for holding their partner too close and loving them deeply from the start. However, their dreams of a future together were shattered when the love interest disappeared, leaving no chance to start over. The refrain emphasizes the singer's feelings of abandonment and longing as they acknowledge that someone else will soon take their place, receiving attention and affection from others. The singer wonders, "But how about me?" suggesting that while their former partner moves on and finds someone new, they will still be haunted by memories and continue to long for the lost love.
The second verse adds more depth to the narrative, painting a picture of romantic moments under moonlight and the allure of the love interest's eyes. But the fleeting joy brought by the sunlight quickly fades into loneliness as twilight sets in. The alternate line suggests that the new person in the love interest's life will proudly share their happiness with the world, while the singer remains forgotten.
Overall, the lyrics communicate a sense of heartbreak, longing, and the painful process of moving on while still holding onto memories of a lost love. The singer feels forgotten and wonders if their former partner will ever think about them in the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Too long I held you close to my heart
I cherished and held onto you for an extended period of time
Too much I loved you right from the start
I had an overwhelming amount of love for you right from the beginning
Too soon you vanished out of my dreams
You disappeared from my dreams too early, leaving me longing for you
Too late to start all over it seems
It is now too late to begin again, despite the desire to do so
It's over, all over
Our relationship has come to an end, completely finished
And soon somebody else will make a fuss about you
In the near future, someone else will show great excitement and attention towards you
But how about me?
Yet, what about my feelings and emotions?
You'll find somebody new
You will discover a new person to be with
But what am I to do?
However, I am left uncertain about what course of action I should take
I'll still remember you
I will continue to hold memories of you in my mind
When you have forgotten
Even when you have moved on and forgotten about me
And maybe a baby will climb upon your knee
Perhaps a child will come into your life, seeking comfort from you
And put its arms about you
And this child will embrace you with its gentle arms
But how about me?
However, what about my presence in your life?
Moonlight was beaming down from the skies
The gentle glow of moonlight illuminated the surroundings
Lovelight was gleaming deep in your eyes
The affection and brightness in your eyes were evident
Sunlight for just a moment and then
But the warmth of sunlight only lasted momentarily before fading
Twilight and I was lonely again
As twilight arrived, I once again found myself in a state of loneliness
Will tell the world about you
They will share stories and spread news of your existence to others
But how about me?
Yet, what about my significance in this tale?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clairdal
there's nobody better than Ella Fitz. So sweet and heartfelt, she breaks your heart.
Corrie121
This is just so beautiful !! A million thanks for sharing this gem.
Faustère
Thanks Ella !!! This is just a beautiful song, a wonderful voice !!!
Jeet Dasgupta
Thnks to you, Im in love with her voice.
Naliaecu
It's a sweet way to cry..... I love her
Nora Johnson
Perfect for what I',m going thru right now......
Maria del amor Gonzalez
Muchas preguntas sin respuesta, o siempre la misma pregunta; how about me.? En este caso nuestra portavoz es Ella. Conmueve. Al menos a mí. Alguna respuesta?
Maria del amor Gonzalez
@jeetdg2012 Her voice is wonderful. Thanks!!
Maria del amor Gonzalez
Thanks for your words.
Joe Carbery
Listen to Leroy Carr's version also. Carr is more well-known as a blues singer, but his rendition of this tune is superior even to Ella's, in my opinion. He sings the verses (both of them) as well as the chorus. Well worth searching out. It's on YouTube.