Darren's role in the gritty 1961 World War II film The Guns of Navarone was an attempt to break out of his teen image. He then achieved success co-starring as impulsive scientist and adventurer Tony Newman in the science fiction television series, The Time Tunnel (1966-67).
In the 1970s, Darren appeared as a celebrity panelist on Match Game.
Later, Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police drama T.J. Hooker from 1983-1986. Subsequently he worked as a director on many action-based television series, including Hunter, The A-Team, and Nowhere Man, as well as dramas such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place.
In 1998 he achieved renewed popularity as a singer through his appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role of holographic crooner and advice-giver Vic Fontaine; many of his performances on the show were recorded for the album This One's From the Heart (1999). The album showed Darren, a close friend of the late Frank Sinatra, comfortably singing in the Sinatra style; the 2001 follow-up Because of You showed similar inspiration from Tony Bennett.
Some animation fans may know him as the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the 1964 animated film, Hey There, it's Yogi Bear, on the song "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a". Prior to that, he was the singing and speaking voice of "Jimmy Darrock" on an episode of The Flintstones.
Darren has been married twice. His first wife was Gloria Terlitsky with whom he has one son, Jim Moret, who formerly worked as a CNN reporter. His second wife is Evy Norlund, with whom he has two sons.
My Old Flame
James Darren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't even think of his name
But it's funny now and then
How my thoughts go flashing back again
To my old flame
My old flame
My new lovers all seem so tame
For I haven't met a gent
So innocent or elegant
As my old flame
I've met so many men
With fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Some who sent me up to the skies
But their attempts at love
Were only imitations of
My old flame
I can't even think of his name
But I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became
Of my old flame
I've met so many men
With fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Some who sent me up to the skies
But their attempts at love
Were only imitations of
My old flame
I can't even think of his name
But I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became
Of my old flame
The lyrics to James Darren's "My Old Flame" portray a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past love. The singer, who remains nameless, has met several new lovers who just don't measure up to the charm and elegance of their old flame, who they can't even remember the name of anymore. Despite the singer's efforts to move on, they can't help but think back to this old flame from time to time. They've met plenty of interesting and captivating people since, but no one quite compares to their old flame. The final stanza reveals that the singer is hopeful they will one day discover what became of their old flame, suggesting that they have perhaps experienced some unresolved emotions towards this person.
Throughout the song, the repetition of certain lines adds a layer of emphasis to the singer's feelings of longing and dissatisfaction with their current situation. The line "I've met so many men with fascinating ways, a fascinating gaze in their eyes" shows that this speaker has experienced a lot of excitement and intrigue with new lovers, but ultimately none of these relationships have fulfilled what they are searching for, leaving a feeling of incompleteness.
Overall, the lyrics to "My Old Flame" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past love who holds a special place in the singer's heart, despite their current circumstances. The singer appears to be searching for something that they just can't seem to find in their current relationships, and are holding onto the hope that one day they will reconnect with their old flame.
Line by Line Meaning
My old flame
Referring to a past romantic interest that the singer still thinks about
I can't even think of his name
The singer can't remember the name of the old flame, but the memory lingers
But it's funny now and then
The singer finds it amusing how thoughts of the old flame still come up from time to time
How my thoughts go flashing back again
The singer's memories of the old flame keep resurfacing
To my old flame
Reiterating the connection to the past romantic interest
My new lovers all seem so tame
The singer is unimpressed with current romantic partners compared to the old flame
For I haven't met a gent
The singer hasn't met a man
So innocent or elegant
Who is as innocent or elegant as the old flame in the singer's memory
As my old flame
Reiterating the unparalleled quality of the past romantic interest
I've met so many men
The singer has met many men in attempts to move on from the old flame
With fascinating ways
These other men have interesting qualities and characteristics
A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Some of these men have a captivating look in their eyes
Some who sent me up to the skies
Some of these men made the singer feel elated or excited
But their attempts at love
However, their efforts in a romantic relationship
Were only imitations of
Could only be seen as copies of
My old flame
Further emphasizing the one-of-a-kind quality of the past romantic interest
But I'll never be the same
The singer's experiences with the old flame have left a lasting impact
Until I discover what became
The singer is still curious about what happened to the old flame
Of my old flame
Final reminder of the subject of the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAM COSLOW, ARTHUR JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind