That Old Feeling
Jim Hall; Paul Desmond Lyrics
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Last night my heart was so gay
Last night I found myself dancing
In my favorite cabaret
You were completely forgotten
Just an affair of the past
Then suddenly something happened to me
And I found my heart beating, oh, so fast
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
The lyrics of the song "That Old Feeling" by Paul Desmond describe the experience of unexpectedly encountering an old flame and feeling the strong emotions of love and longing reignited. The singer begins by describing a joyful evening spent dancing in a cabaret, during which they feel entirely disconnected from their past romantic entanglements. However, upon seeing their former lover again, they feel a sudden, powerful emotional response - their heart begins to race, and they are filled with an intense sense of yearning. Despite recognizing that pursuing a new relationship would be "foolish" given their lingering feelings for this person, the singer cannot help but be overwhelmed by the "old feeling" that this encounter has rekindled within them.
One compelling interpretation of this song is that it speaks to the way that past relationships can continue to exert a powerful hold on our emotional lives, even as we try to move on and find new connections. The singer's inner turmoil - their conflicting desires to pursue new romance and to hold onto their feelings for their ex - is a relatable and poignant reflection of the complexities of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I started out happy
I began the night feeling joyful and content.
Last night my heart was so gay
I was filled with happiness and exuberance last night.
Last night I found myself dancing, in my favorite cabaret
I spent the evening dancing at my preferred venue.
You were completely forgotten, just an affair of the past
I had moved on from you, you were nothing more than a memory.
Then suddenly something happened to me, and I found my heart beating oh so fast
Unexpectedly, my heart began to beat rapidly and I felt an intense emotion.
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
Upon seeing you last night, I felt a familiar sensation.
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
Seeing you brought back previous emotions and memories.
The moment that you danced by, I felt a thrill
Watching you dance sent a shiver of excitement through me.
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
My heart stopped for a moment when our eyes met.
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
I felt a returning desire for what I once had with you.
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
I realized that my affection for you still existed.
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
I knew that it would be unwise to pursue a new love interest.
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
The old emotions I felt for you are still within me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind