Memory
Lawrence Stephanie Lyrics


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Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
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?
She is smiling alone in the lamplight
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Memory" by Lawrence Stephanie has a reflective tone that explores the impact of nostalgia on the present. The lyrics follow a clear narrative that conveys a sense of longing for happier times while simultaneously acknowledging the inevitable passage of time. The song, which served as the signature song for the musical Cats, begins with the singer observing the frailty of life through the imagery of sunflowers and roses. The singer wishes to turn their face towards the dawn, yearning for a new day and the promise of a brighter future.


As the song progresses, we see how the theme of time and loss continues to be explored. The singer finds themselves in the middle of the night, where the stillness of the pavement and the smiling moon evoke a sense of loneliness and detachment. Yet the memories of the past, when happiness was palpable, sustain the singer. It is through these memories that the singer finds solace, and though at times they seem distant and detached, they continue to provide a sense of grounding amidst the uncertainties of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
Observing the natural world in the morning light and noticing the fragile beauty of flowers.


And a rose that is fading
Noticing that even the most beautiful things eventually wither away.


Roses whither away like the sunflower
Making the observation that all living things eventually fade away and die.


I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
Expressing a desire to face and embrace change and new beginnings.


I am waiting for the day
Anticipating the arrival of a new day that brings fresh opportunities and experiences.


Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
Describing the stillness and quietness of the night time.


Has the moon lost her memory?
Reflecting on the possibility of the moon forgetting its role as a source of light and inspiration.


She is smiling alone in the lamplight
Seeing the moon as a solitary yet beautiful figure shining in the dark.


The withered leaves collect at my feet
Noting the decay and deterioration of nature that occurs over time.


And the wind begins to moan
Hearing the sound of the wind as it moves through the night and expresses its own emotions.


Memory, all alone in the moonlight
Remembering previous experiences and emotions while surrounded by a quiet and contemplative atmosphere.


I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
Revisiting a time in the past when life felt vibrant and full of possibility.


I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Recalling a specific moment in the past when happiness felt attainable and real.


Let the memory live again
Inviting memories of happiness and joy to be brought forward and relived.


Every street lamp
Notice a pattern in the environment, specifically the street lamps.


Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Interpreting the flickering of the street lamps as a sign of a warning from the universe.


Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
Hearing the sound of someone's voice in the night and equating it with the flickering of the street lamps.


And soon it will be morning
Looking forward to the arrival of a new day and the opportunities it will bring.


Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
Acknowledging that patience is required while waiting for the new day to begin.


I must think of a new life
Contemplating the changes that must be made in order for life to improve and become more fulfilling.


And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
Remaining strong and committed to positive change despite the challenges that may arise.


Tonight will be a memory too
Knowing that the present moment will soon become a memory as time moves on.


And a new day will begin
Embracing the hope and opportunity that comes with the arrival of a new day.


Burnt out ends of smoky days
Reflecting on past experiences that were intense and perhaps even harmful in some way.


The stale cold smell of morning
Noticing the smells and sensations of the new day, including those that may not be pleasant.


The street lamp dies, another night is over
Recognizing that time and life are continually moving forward, one moment at a time.


Another day is dawning
Maintaining an optimistic outlook and welcoming the arrival of a new day.


Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
Expressing a fear of abandonment and a longing for connection with others.


All alone with the memory
Feeling isolated and alone while surrounded by memories of the past.


Of my days in the sun if you touch me
Recalling past experiences of joy and happiness and using them as a way of connecting with others.


You'll understand what happiness is
Believing that happiness can be found through human connection and understanding.


Look
Drawing attention to the present moment and encouraging awareness of the current situation.


A new day has begun
Celebrating the arrival of a new day and all the possibilities it brings.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Robin Chapman

I was SO lucky to see and hear Stephanie in the original Starlight Express. I'll never forget the impact her voice had - absolutely stunning.

Vicki Diane

This is my 1st cousin singing so beautifully !
What a talent and fabulous entertainer ~ a true loss to the entertainment world

RIP Stephanie  <3

Haydn HANSON

Hi Vicky that would make us related. She was my sister...

Dr. Craig M McGill

@Vicki Diane I echo all of these comments. She is incredible. He Whistled at me is my other fav from the show! Have been a fan since I was about 12 years old. ❤️

Vicki Diane

Davy Thomas 🤗🙏❤️

Vicki Diane

Excuse my spelling mistake

Vicki Diane

basherdrummer I’ve just read this. Thanks for that lively comment ❤️

11 More Replies...

Alyssa

The original Pearl... you will be missed. Thank you for giving your perfect voice to a show that inspires so many!!

mattski73

Absolutely stunning. Thanks for posting. RIP Stephanie Lawrence.

James Gale

Man this takes me back to 1984. Also remember the late great Mike Staniforth who played CB the Red Caboose.

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