Tennessee Waltz
Mary Ford Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost




Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

Overall Meaning

The song "Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page and Pee Wee King that was released in 1950 became a huge hit, and Mary Ford's version was just as popular. The lyrics tell the story of a person who was dancing with their "darlin' " to the slow and romantic "Tennessee Waltz" when they saw an old friend. They introduced their loved one to the friend and left them to dance together but were unaware of their friend's nefarious intentions. While they were dancing, the friend "stole" the singer's sweetheart from them. The singer is left with nothing, except the memories of that fateful night when they lost their love.


The theme of betrayal is the central theme of the song. The singer feels hurt and betrayed by someone close to them, someone they trusted. The waltz, with its sweeping and slow movements, becomes a poignant symbol of the singer's heartbreak. The repetition of the lyrics - "I remember the night" and "Now I know just how much I have lost" - emphasizes the depth of the singer's sadness and longing.


Line by Line Meaning

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
I was enjoying a lovely dance with my beloved partner accompanied by the Tennessee Waltz


When an old friend I happened to see
Suddenly, I spotted an old friend of mine


I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
I made the acquaintance of my friend with my beloved partner, while they both started dancing


My friend stole my sweetheart from me
Regrettably, my friend won over the affections of my dear partner and eventually won them away from me


I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
I can still reflect on that night and recall the music, the setting, and the feelings it stirred up


Now I know just how much I have lost
Alas, after the breakup, I realized the true value of my lost lover and how much they meant to me


Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
The Tennessee Waltz became a gloomy reminder for me that it was the night I lost my precious beloved partner


The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
This song that once held great joy and beauty for me is now a sad reminder of my lost love




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Redd Stewart, Pee Wee King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@vanenghruaitluanga2623

I was dancing with my darling to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him to my loved one and while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Only you know how much I have lost
Yes I lost my little darling the night they were playing
That beautiful Tennessee Waltz

I was dancing with my darling to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him to my loved one and while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Only you know how much I have lost
Yes I lost my little darling the night they were playing
That beautiful Tennessee Waltz



All comments from YouTube:

@usmale4915

Thank you for the Les Paul & Mary Ford upload. I haven't listened to them in a very long time. They were fantastic, especially with their version of "How High The Moon"! Mary Ford's vocal(s) are over-dubbed 12 times on that recording along with Les Paul, whom also over-dubbed himself 12 times. But to me, their best recording is "Vaya Con Dios"!

@silenceisgoldn

forever a classic. my grandfather introduced me to this gem decades ago. long live the classics...

@Tx1113

Classic and timeless!! love it

@bobmadoogaschannel7979

Les Paul is well known for his work with electric guitars, but he also pioneered recording technologies, including overdubbing, which is used in this recording as Mary Ford sings a beautiful duet with herself. By the way, Patti Page also used a multi-track recordig in her hit single.

@urzathehappy72

Nice thanks for the info.

@gyanf

Skeeter Davis also sang with herself as did Connie Francis. Great days with basic technology!

@shirandadeerwoman9124

Grew up with this music. Doesn't get much better than Les Paul and Mary Ford. Classic.Beautiful.

@shirandadeerwoman9124

@Roger [kirby] Waters PBS aired a documentary on Les Paul, I believe it was called, "Chasing Sound".Really something. Saw it almost ten years ago.

@usmale4915

@Gyan Fernando And you just can't forget Lesley Gore, whom also did a lot of "double-tracking" on her main vocal(s), plus her self-harmonies! Just listen to her 1963 recording "She's A Fool", and you will know what I am saying.

2 More Replies...

@dimpanmei7

Why Havnt i hear this from before. Its absolutely amazing. Lovely melody. Gave me some peace of mind in these hard times. 🥰

More Comments

More Versions