Born and raised in New York City, Kenny Rankin was a singer/songwriter whos… Read Full Bio ↴Born and raised in New York City, Kenny Rankin was a singer/songwriter whose music combined jazz, folk and pop influences. Between 1967 and 2002, he released 13 albums. Among the most successful were 1976's "The Kenny Rankin Album," which reached No. 99 on the "Billboard" album charts, and 1980's "After the Roses," which charted at No. 171. Both albums were produced by Don Costa.

Rankin's best-known composition, "Peaceful," was a major hit for Helen Reddy in 1973. He had a major fan in Johnny Carson, who had Rankin appear on "The Tonight Show" more than two dozen times. Carson wrote the liner notes for Rankin's 1967 debut album, "Mind Dusters."

Rankin died June 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. According to his management company, he was diagnosed with lung cancer three weeks earlier.

The Way You Look Tonight
Kenny Rankin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some day, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight
Oh but, you're lovely with your cheeks so soft and your lips so warm
There is nothing for me but to love you, just the way you look tonight

With each word, your tenderness grows, tearing my fears apart
And that laugh, that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart
Lovely, never, never change keep that breathless charm

Won't you please, arrange it 'cause I love you just the way you look tonight

Lovely, never, never change keep that breathless charm
Won't you please, arrange it 'cause I love you just the way you look tonight

Just the way you look tonight

Overall Meaning

Kenny Rankin's song The Way You Look Tonight is a beautiful love ballad that speaks about how the person he loves makes him feel. He starts the song by explaining that there are times when he becomes sad and the world feels cold, but just thinking about the person he loves makes him feel warm and happy. The person's physical appearance is described as lovely with soft cheeks and warm lips. He professes his love for her and states that he loves her just the way she looks tonight.

As the song progresses, he highlights the way she makes him feel with each word she speaks to him. Her tenderness tears his fears apart, and her laugh touches his foolish heart. He pleads with her to never change and to keep her breathless charm that he loves so much. The song ends with him repeating once again that he loves her just the way she looks tonight.

The song can be interpreted as a love letter to a person that has given the singer joy and happiness during hard times. The way she looks, talks, and laughs touches his heart in a unique way, and he wants her to know how much she means to him. The song is timeless and is a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions.

Line by Line Meaning

Some day, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold
When I am feeling my worst, and everything around me feels cold and uncaring.

I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight
Just the thought of you and how beautiful you are makes me feel warm and happy, even in my lowest moments.

Oh but, you're lovely with your cheeks so soft and your lips so warm
You are absolutely beautiful, with your soft, warm features that make me feel so drawn to you.

There is nothing for me but to love you, just the way you look tonight
I have no other option but to love you, because you are so wonderful and perfect in my eyes.

With each word, your tenderness grows, tearing my fears apart
Every time you speak, your gentle nature makes me feel safe and secure, and helps me to forget all of my worries.

And that laugh, that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart
The sound of your laugh, and the little wrinkles on your nose that show when you do, make my heart skip a beat with joy.

Lovely, never, never change keep that breathless charm
You are so lovely just the way you are, and I never want you to change, because everything about you takes my breath away.

Won't you please, arrange it 'cause I love you just the way you look tonight
Please keep being yourself, because I love you so much and everything about you is perfect.

Lovely, never, never change keep that breathless charm
You are so lovely just the way you are, and I never want you to change, because everything about you takes my breath away.

Won't you please, arrange it 'cause I love you just the way you look tonight
Please keep being yourself, because I love you so much and everything about you is perfect.

Just the way you look tonight
You are so beautiful, with everything about you perfect just the way it is, and I cannot help but fall in love with you every time I look at you.

Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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