Memory
Julian Lloyd Webber & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day
Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Every street lamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
And soon it will be morning
Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The street lamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun if you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look
A new day has begun
The lyrics to Julian Lloyd Webber's song Memory have a deep and introspective quality that speaks to the complex human desire for happiness, fulfillment, and the passage of time. The song's opening lyrics offer vivid imagery of a sunflower covered in dew and a fading rose, both symbols of impermanence and fleeting beauty. The singer yearns to turn their face to the dawn, waiting for the promise of a new day.
As the song progresses, the singer is alone in the moonlight, reminiscing on old memories and past happiness. They reflect on how every street lamp seems to beat a fatalistic warning, as if warning them of the ephemerality of life. The wind begins to moan, the withered leaves collect at their feet, and the mood becomes increasingly melancholic.
The chorus, "Memory, all alone in the moonlight," is a powerful reflection on the transformative power of memories. The singer remembers the time they knew what happiness was, and longs for the opportunity to let that memory live again. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer acknowledging that a new day has begun, signaling the possibility of a new life and renewed happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
I'm seeing the dew on the sunflower in the daylight
And a rose that is fading
I see a fading rose as well
Roses whither away like the sunflower
Both roses and sunflowers wither away eventually
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I'm longing to face the dawn
I am waiting for the day
I'm waiting for the day to come
Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
It's midnight and the pavement is silent
Has the moon lost her memory?
I wonder if the moon has lost its memory
She is smiling alone in the lamplight
But the moon is still smiling alone in the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
Leaves that have dried keep accumulating at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
The wind is making a sad sound
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I'm by myself in the moonlight, reminiscing about the past
I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
I'm happy to recollect the times when I was truly gorgeous
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
I cherish the moment when I was truly happy
Let the memory live again
I hope to bring those happy memories back to life
Every street lamp
Each and every street lamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Gives me an impression that it's conveying a pessimistic message
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
I hear somebody murmuring and then the street lamp flickers
And soon it will be morning
and soon dawn will break
Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I'm looking forward to sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I should plan on starting afresh
And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
I should not give up when the new day arrives
Tonight will be a memory too
This night will soon become a memory
And a new day will begin
And soon, a new day will commence
Burnt out ends of smoky days
Burnt remnants of hazy days
The stale cold smell of morning
There's a musty and cold smell of dawn
The street lamp dies, another night is over
The lamp goes out, marking the end of another night
Another day is dawning
A new day is about to start
Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
Touch me, and you'll realize how easily people leave me
All alone with the memory
I'm left alone with nothing but memories
Of my days in the sun if you touch me
But if you touch me, I'll recall happy times
You'll understand what happiness is
You'll feel the true meaning of happiness
Look
Look at it
A new day has begun
A new day is here
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Eliot, Zdenek Hruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind