Memory
Matt Monro Lyrics
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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 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 a 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 a memory
Of my days in the sun.
If you touch me I'll understand what happiness is.
Look, a new day has begun.
The opening lines of Matt Monro's song Memory create a vivid image of a midnight scene in a city. The silence of the pavement contrasts with the lyrics' focus on memory, as if the past is the only thing that can be heard. The moon, often associated with romanticism and nostalgia, is personified as having lost her memory and withering away, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. As the leaves collect at the singer's feet and the wind moans, the lyrics move into a heartfelt yearning for the past. The singer is alone in the moonlight, a powerful image which emphasizes the song's sense of solitude, loss, and longing.
The chorus of the song, "Memory, all alone in the moonlight, I can smile at the old days," further cements the singer's desire to revisit and relive past joys, while acknowledging that time has passed and these memories may now only exist in her mind. The second verse explores the singer's sadness at her current circumstances, with street lamps ominously signaling the inevitable and impending end of the night. However, as the dawn breaks, the singer looks ahead to a new day, a chance for a fresh start, and the possibility of rediscovering what once brought happiness.
Overall, Memory beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of memories, the struggle to hold onto the past, and the hope for new beginnings. It's a song that resonates with anyone who has felt the pull of nostalgia or longed for a second chance.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight. Not a sound from the pavement.
It's midnight and the street is silent.
Has the moon lost her memory?
Is the moon also forgetful like me?
She is smiling alone.
The moon is alone but she is smiling.
In the lamplight the withered leaves collect at my feet
The leaves are drying up and gathering at my feet in the light of the street lamps.
And the wind begins to moan.
The wind is starting to sigh.
Memory. All alone in the moonlight
My memories come back to me when I'm alone in the moonlight.
I can smile at the old days;
I can still smile remembering the good old days.
I was beautiful then.
I looked and felt beautiful in those days.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
I recall the time when I was truly happy.
Let the memory live again.
I want to relive those memories once again.
Every street lamp seems to beat
The street lamps appear to pulse or beat.
A fatalistic warning.
This is a warning of a dark and inevitable future.
Someone mutters and a street lamp gutters
Someone is whispering and a street lamp flickers.
And soon it will be morning.
Morning is almost here.
Daylight. I must wait for the sunrise,
I must wait for the sun to rise in the daylight.
I must think of a new life
I must consider starting over with a new life.
And I mustn't give in.
I must not give up hope.
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
This night will also become a memory when the morning arrives.
And a new day will begin.
A new day will begin with a fresh start.
Burnt out ends of smoky days,
The remains of hazy and tiring days.
The stale, cold smell of morning.
The smell of morning air that is old and chilly.
The street lamp dies, another night is over,
The street lamp flickers and goes out, indicating the end of another night.
Another day is dawning.
A new day is coming up again.
Touch me. It's so easy to leave me
It's easy to leave me behind, just by touching me.
All alone with a memory
I am alone with my memories.
Of my days in the sun.
I am thinking of my happy days in the sunlight.
If you touch me I'll understand what happiness is.
If you touch me now, I will finally understand what true happiness feels like.
Look, a new day has begun.
Look, it's a new day filled with hope and fresh opportunities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Eliot, Zdenek Hruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
elvidinck
I like Matt Monro...he has a very smooth voice...elegant and strong...this was great...loved it...10 stars!
wineandroses20
Great song from the greatest singer Matt Monro. Most beautiful voice and version. Thanks for posting. . . .
Joan Cuthill
I just love this song dear Osama and this is a wonderful version, with a video to add to your perfect upload. Blessings, stars and warm hugs..Jan and Susan ♥
carmenclinvep
Great video! I always love this song! all the stars for you Osama! Thanks for sharing Carlinhos Hugs from Brazil Carmen Cecilia
MiMundoCreativo
Beautiful version and song! Excellent video! 5***** Thank you Osama! Hugs.
Ana Jil
Very beautiful... I love everything here - beautiful song, wonderful video and adorable voice of Matt Monro... Maybe male part of the audience prefer version of Barbra Streisand :-), but I prefer this one... sang by Matt Monro ***** Thanks Osama for posting this video!
Marilene Martins
Love this song!! Thank you, dear friend Osama for posting, of song marvellous!!Kisses in your heart!!
ancaburg
Osama, you can take with you this song and the video and put them on the next channel :))) and you'll have the same success. It's a song that will always bring back memories and a very touching and delightful video that will enchant us. Really great!!!
Marilene Martins
......Marvellous song!! Excellent video!! Fantastic song and images Thank you My dear friend Osama for posting and sharing!!!......Kisses
rebel750v4
Beau travail Ossama ***** ,merci Anca pour ce partage ....