She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester then appeared on the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, who took her on as a backup singer in 1971.
Her debut album, Home to Myself, was released in 1973; Manchester co-wrote many of its songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Two years later Manchester's album Melissa produced her first top ten hit, "Midnight Blue". Manchester collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write Loggin's 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend". At this time, she guest-starred on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow to teach a main character, who was a singer-songwriter, the essentials of the craft. In 1979 Manchester made the top ten with her version of Peter Allen's "Don't Cry Out Loud", for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance.
In 1980 Manchester became the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for an Academy Award—"Through The Eyes Of Love" from the film Ice Castles and "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the film The Promise'.
Two years later she had her biggest hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You", which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. It was her last Top 40 Pop hit, but Manchester did well on the Adult Contemporary charts the rest of the 1980s. Her most recent big Adult Contemporary hit was a 1989 updating of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By".
Through the 1980s and 1990s Manchester alternated recording with acting, appearing with Bette Midler in the film For the Boys and on the television series Blossom.
Melissa also wrote and starred in the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love based on the Bernice Rubens novel of the same name.
In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years: When I Look Down That Road.
Slowly
Melissa Manchester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how do I like romance
Oh, if you want to hold me
And fall in love slowly
Then, baby, this is our chance
So let's dance
(Let's dance, slowly)
Like you want me to do
And one night of love, baby
Won't mean a thing to me and you
(Ooh-ooh-ooh...)
Let's not rush into something
We'd be acting like fools
I need a whole love, baby
Not just a part of you
How do I like to dance, slowly
And how do I like my romance, slowly
Oh, if you want to hold me
And fall in love slowly
Then, baby, this is our chance
So let's dance
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh...)
You're coming on, baby
Much too strong, I know
We need to know each other
So let's take it nice and slow
How do I like to dance, slowly
And how do I like my romance, slowly
Oh, if you want to hold me
And fall in love slowly
Then, baby, this is our chance
How do I like to dance, slowly
And how do I like my romance, slowly
How do I like to dance, slowly
And how do I like my romance, slowly
In Melissa Manchester's song "Slowly," the lyrics depict a desire for a slow and steady approach to love and romance. She wants to take things at a pace that is comfortable for her, rather than rushing into anything too quickly. She values the idea of getting to know someone on a deeper level and building a whole love, rather than just a superficial connection.
The opening verse describes her preference for slow dancing and romance, setting the tone for the entire song. She wants to fall in love slowly, letting the relationship unfold naturally and organically, without any undue pressure or expectations. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing the need to take things one step at a time, to fully appreciate the journey of love.
The second verse speaks to the potential for a mismatch in pacing between her and her partner. They want to hurry things along, while she wants to take her time. She recognizes that a one-night stand won't satisfy her need for a deeper, more substantial connection. The bridge suggests that slowing things down is the best approach, so that they can really get to know each other in a meaningful way.
Overall, "Slowly" is a song about valuing patience and taking things at a comfortable pace when it comes to love and relationships. By doing so, we open ourselves up to the possibility of a deeper, more meaningful connection with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
How do I like to dance
I prefer to sway rhythmically to music at a slower pace
And how do I like romance
I am fond of taking my time to enjoy the loving, intimate moments of a relationship
Oh, if you want to hold me
If you want to embrace me and have a relationship with me
And fall in love slowly
And gradually develop a deep affection for each other
Then, baby, this is our chance
Now is the perfect opportunity for us to make this happen
So let's dance
So let's take advantage of the moment and enjoy ourselves
I can't hurry, my loving
I am not able to rush or force my love to develop quickly
Like you want me to do
As much as you may want me to do so
And one night of love, baby
One night of passion and intimacy is not enough for a fulfilling relationship
Won't mean a thing to me and you
It will be insignificant and meaningless for both of us in the long run
Let's not rush into something
Let's not allow ourselves to be hasty or impulsive in our actions
We'd be acting like fools
We would be making a mistake and not acting wisely
I need a whole love, baby
I desire a complete and deep love from you
Not just a part of you
I do not want just a superficial or shallow love from you
You're coming on, baby
You're showing too much eagerness and enthusiasm, too soon
Much too strong, I know
Too much too soon can be overwhelming and undesirable in a relationship
We need to know each other
We need to spend more time together to understand each other better
So let's take it nice and slow
So let's not rush anything and take our time to develop our relationship
Contributed by Micah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.