It Happened In Monterey
Mel Torme & The Mel-Tones Lyrics
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Somewhere along the Rio Grande
Sadly I'm reminiscing, madly again I'm kissing
Someone along the Rio Grande
It happened in Monterey a long time ago
I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
Stars and steel guitars
Broke somebody's heart
And I'm afraid that it was mine
It happened in Monterey
Without thinking twice
I left her and threw away the key to paradise
My indiscreet heart longs for the sweetheart
That I left in old Monterey
Making believe I'm merry
In every glass of sherry
I see the sparkle of her eye
And when I hear the cello
Tender and sweet and mellow
I hear the music of her sigh
It happened in Monterey, a long time ago
I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
Stars and steel guitars
And luscious lips as red as wine
Broke somebody's heart
And I'm afraid that it was mine
It happened in Monterey
Without thinking twice
I left her and threw away the key to paradise
My indiscreet heart longs for the sweetheart
It Happened in Monterey by Mel Tormé is a romantic song with a nostalgic tone. The song is sung from the perspective of someone who met and fell in love with a girl in Monterey, Mexico, but left her without thinking twice. The opening lines of the song "In my imagination, I’m finding consolation, somewhere along the Rio Grande, sadly I’m reminiscing, madly again I’m kissing, someone along the Rio Grande" evoke the singer’s longing for his lost love. He is seeking consolation in his imagination and reminiscing about the past.
The lyrics describe the singer's memories of the time he spent with his love in Monterey, where they experienced the beauty of the stars and the sound of steel guitars. The singer describes his lover's luscious red lips that broke his heart. The line "Broke somebody’s heart, and I’m afraid that it was mine" points to the singer's lingering pain and regret. He later asserts that his heart longs for the sweetheart he left behind in Monterey.
The lyrics also portray the singer's struggle to move on from the past. He is making believe he is merry in every glass of sherry, but still sees his lost love's sparkle in his eye. The sound of the cello tender and sweet and mellow reminds the singer of the music of her sigh. The vivid descriptions of the singer's memories and his longing for his lost love create a haunting tone that makes the song an enduring classic.
Line by Line Meaning
In my imagination, I'm finding consolation
I am seeking solace inside my own thoughts and imagination.
Somewhere along the Rio Grande
Perhaps, the origin of my thoughts is in the Rio Grande region, which I associate with certain memories and emotions.
Sadly I'm reminiscing, madly again I'm kissing
I am deeply and emotionally recalling a past memory of embracing and kissing someone passionately.
Someone along the Rio Grande
Someone who I had feelings for may have shared this memory with me along the Rio Grande.
It happened in Monterey a long time ago
I want to share a personal story or experience that happened in Monterey a long time ago.
I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
I met someone special in Monterey, which was once part of Mexico.
Stars and steel guitars
I remember the atmosphere of Monterey, with stars shining in the night sky and the instrumentals of steel guitars.
And luscious lips as red as wine
I remember the physical features of the person I met, specifically their lips that were as red as wine.
Broke somebody's heart
Unfortunately, someone's heart was broken during this time.
And I'm afraid that it was mine
I am scared to acknowledge that the broken heart was mine.
Without thinking twice
I acted without consideration for the consequences.
I left her and threw away the key to paradise
I made a decision to leave someone and, in doing so, gave up the chance at happiness and serenity.
My indiscreet heart longs for the sweetheart
My heart secretly yearns for the person I left behind in Monterey.
Making believe I'm merry
I am pretending to be happy, despite my inner turmoil.
In every glass of sherry
Every time I drink a glass of sherry, memories of this person come flooding back.
I see the sparkle of her eye
I can visualize the sparkle in the person's eye and feel a sense of longing.
And when I hear the cello
The sound of a cello triggers memories of this person and the time we spent together.
Tender and sweet and mellow
The sound of the cello is soothing, delicate, and melancholic.
I hear the music of her sigh
I can almost hear the sound of the person's sigh and it fills me with emotion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Rose, Mabel Wayne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind