Rhapsody in Blue
L. Bernstein - Los Angelos Philharmonic Orchestra - L. Bernstein Piano Lyrics
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I'm somewhere in another world, alone with you
Sharing all the joys we used to know
Many moons ago
Once again your face comes back to me
Just like the theme of some forgotten melody
In the album of my memory
It seems like only yesterday
The small cafe, a crowded floor
And as we danced the night away
I hear you say forever more
And then the song became a sigh
Forever more became goodbye
Cause you remained in my heart, but
Tell me darling in there still a spark?
Or only lonely ashes of the flame we knew
Should I go on whistling in the dark,
Serenade in blue
The lyrics of Rhapsody in Blue’s Serenade in Blue carry a deeply pensive and nostalgic tone that reflect on lost love and the memories that remain. The song begins with the singer transporting himself to another time and place as he hears the serenade, a piece of music that takes him back to bygone days spent with a lover. He reminisces about the time spent with the lover, the affection shared and the joys experienced.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that the memories are all he has and wonders if there is a possibility of reigniting their romance. The song takes a melancholic turn as he reflects on how forever more turned into goodbye and is left to wonder if there is a glimmer of hope left or if their love has been reduced to mere memories to be recalled in the serenade in blue. The final verse sees the singer decidedly alone while questioning whether it’s worth holding on to the remnants of the flame of love.
Overall, the lyrics of Rhapsody in Blue’s Serenade in Blue feature introspective musings on a past love and the need to determine whether to hold on to the memories or focus on moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hear that Serenade in blue
Whenever I listen to the song Serenade in blue
I'm somewhere in another world, alone with you
I feel like I am transported to a different world, where it's just the two of us
Sharing all the joys we used to know
We are reliving all the happy moments we had together
Many moons ago
A long time ago
Once again your face comes back to me
I see your face once again
Just like the theme of some forgotten melody
It's like the reminiscence of a melody long forgotten
In the album of my memory
In my memory, preserved like an album
Serenade in blue
The song Serenade in blue
It seems like only yesterday
It feels like it was just yesterday
The small cafe, a crowded floor
We were in a cozy little cafe with a lot of people around us
And as we danced the night away
We spent the night dancing
I hear you say forever more
You told me that it would be forever
And then the song became a sigh
But then, the song turned into a sigh
Forever more became goodbye
The promise of forever became a goodbye
Cause you remained in my heart, but
Because you stayed in my heart, but
Tell me darling in there still a spark?
I want to know if there's still something between us
Or only lonely ashes of the flame we knew
Or is everything we had just a distant memory
Should I go on whistling in the dark,
Should I continue holding onto something that may no longer exist
Serenade in blue
The song Serenade in blue
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY WARREN, MACK GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SheldonSchorer
I had occasion to discuss Bernstein with someone who had played under him in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The stories he told of the depth of his understanding of each instrument and how he coaxed the best performance out of each player are amazing.
I had met him for lunch a day after Leonard Bernstein died. As my friend, (let's call him Cohen) played the double-bassoon in the Israel Philharmonic, I asked him to tell me some Leonard Bernstein stories. This is how he told it to me.
First of all, he said, Bernstein was an incredible musical genius. When rehearsing, he would always recognize any wrong notes and would both point it out and correct it. He was a wonderful teacher who knew each instrument and what the player would have to do to improve and get it right.
Did he ever correct you? I asked. He paused, took a long breath, and said - let me tell you what happened to me.
There is passage in a piece by Bruckner where the double-bassoon plays an exceptionally long passage. It's impossible to play the entire passage in one breath, so the question is whether you should take the breath near the beginnin or the end of the passage. I asked Bernstein which I should do. He said, "Cohen, I want you to do the entire passage in one breath." I protested that it was impossible, and he knew it and I renewed my request for instructions on when I should take my breath. He said, "One breath. Let's do the piece now, with one breath."
So the orchestra geared up for that piece, and when I reached the passage, I filled up with air, tried as hard as I could, but simply couldn't complete the passage. Bernstein said: "Don't worry. On the night of the performance you'll do it in one breath."
All of the time until the night of the performance, I was panicking out. What did this maniac want from me. If I try to do the whole piece in one breath, I will fail and the audience will know it. I'll embarrass myself. But if I take my regular breath, Bernstein will be disappointed in me.
I asked him, so what did you do?
On the night of the performance, I decided to try to do the passage in one breath. And I did it - in one breath!
I asked - did Bernstein stop the show to give you an applause?
No. But a bit later in the performance, he looked at me and briefly nodded his head. That was all, and that was plenty. When I went home, I was walking on air. I was floating. Bernstein knew how to motivate and get the best out of everybody.
He added a coda to the story. "Someone told me that when Bernstein returned to New York, he rehearsed the Philharmonic to do the same Bruckner piece. He also instructed Kelly, the double bassoonist to do the passage in one breath. Kelly complained: you know that that is impossible! Bernstein replied, "Why can't you do it? After all, Cohen in Israel did it."
@SheldonSchorer
I met a friend for lunch a day after Leonard Bernstein died. As my friend, (let's call him Cohen) played the double-bassoon in the Israel Philharmonic, I asked him to tell me some Leonard Bernstein stories. This is how he told it to me.
First of all, he said, Bernstein was an incredible musical genius. When rehearsing, he would always recognize any wrong notes and would both point it out and correct it. He was a wonderful teacher who knew each instrument and what the player would have to do to improve and get it right.
Did he ever correct you? I asked. He paused, took a long breath, and said - let me tell you what happened to me.
There is passage in a piece by Bruckner where the double-bassoon plays an exceptionally long passage. It's impossible to play the entire passage in one breath, so the question is whether you should take the breath near the beginnin or the end of the passage. I asked Bernstein which I should do. He said, "Cohen, I want you to do the entire passage in one breath." I protested that it was impossible, and he knew it and I renewed my request for instructions on when I should take my breath. He said, "One breath. Let's do the piece now, with one breath."
So the orchestra geared up for that piece, and when I reached the passage, I filled up with air, tried as hard as I could, but simply couldn't complete the passage. Bernstein said: "Don't worry. On the night of the performance you'll do it in one breath."
All of the time until the night of the performance, I was panicking out. What did this maniac want from me. If I try to do the whole piece in one breath, I will fail and the audience will know it. I'll embarrass myself. But if I take my regular breath, Bernstein will be disappointed in me.
I asked him, so what did you do?
On the night of the performance, I decided to try to do the passage in one breath. And I did it - in one breath!
I asked - did Bernstein stop the show to give you an applause?
No. But a bit later in the performance, he looked at me and briefly nodded his head. That was all, and that was plenty. When I went home, I was walking on air. I was floating. Bernstein knew how to motivate and get the best out of everybody.
He added a coda to the story. "Someone told me that when Bernstein returned to New York, he rehearsed the Philharmonic to do the same Bruckner piece. He also instructed Kelly, the double bassoonist to do the passage in one breath. Kelly complained: you know that that is impossible! Bernstein replied, "Why can't you do it? After all, Cohen in Israel did it."
@johnseriousmen9256
There’s a special place in hell for whoever put an ad smack in the middle of this
@poprockahead3924
Absolutely, straight to execution!
@Video7Rose
Amen to that!
@segmentsAndCurves
PAY.
@SpeegBJ
Thanks Tyler.
@hifijohn
cast the devil away with your savior called adblocker.
@darthstarkiller1912
Just think, 2024 marks the centennial of "Rhapsody in Blue" which is still a masterpiece of modern music. Gershwin was a genius, and Bernstein's conducting and piano playing were out of this world. Incredible performance.
@johnscanlan9335
Amen!!!
@kevinmalone3210
I'll 2nd that!
@David-yw2lv
The Bret "Hitman"Hart of musical compositions,the best there is,the best there was,the best that ever will be.