Finding his voice in a school choir, Crawford began his professional career still a teenager. Having some luck on the London stage in the early 60s, he then found his way onto the BBC and starred in various programmes such as 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. He also had film roles in 'The War Lover', 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. and 'How I Won the War' (which brought him into the same work as John Lennon).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's casting of him opposite Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton as the Phantom in 1986 shot his career into high gear. Winning a Tony Award for his role, Crawford also had the aforementioned tune, "The Music Of The Night", reach the British Top Ten. He has released several studio albums such as 'A Touch of Music in the Night' and 'On Eagle's Wings' among others.
Other Pleasures / The First Man You Remember
Michael Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Other Pleasures
GEORGE:
Jenny,
You're a miracle!
Is there nothing you conceal?
You astonish me!
Never hiding
What you feel...
Other pleasures...
And I've known many...
Afternoons
In warm Venetian squares,
Brief encounters,
Long siestas...
Pleasures old and new
Can't compare with you.
You amaze me!
Where did you come from?
You do things
Champagne could never do.
Crystal winters,
Crimson summers...
Other pleasures --
I would trade them all
For you.
Pleasures old and new
Can't compare with you...
Wild mimosa,...
The scent of evening...
Shuttered rooms
With sunlight breaking through...
Crazy soirees...
Lazy Sundays...
Other pleasures...
I would trade them all
For you.
Sailing off
In the night
On a silver lake...
Taking more
From this life
Thank I ought to take...
Other pleasures...
I would trade them all
For you.
The First Man You Remember
GEORGE:
I want to be
The first man you remember,
I want to be
The last man you forget.
I want to be
The one you always turn to,
I want to be
The one you won't regret.
May I be first
To say you look delightful?
May I be first
To dance you round the floor?
The very first
To see your face by moonlight?
The very first
To walk you to your door?
JENNY:
Well, young man, I'd be delighted!
There is nothing I would rather do!
What could be a sweeter memory
Than sharing my first dance with you?
GEORGE:
I want to be
The first man you remember...
JENNY:
The very first
To sweep me off my feet.
GEORGE:
I want to be
The one you always turn to...
JENNY:
The first to make
My young heart miss a beat.
GEORGE:
Seems the stars are far below us...
JENNY:
The moon has never felt so close before...
Our first dance will be forever...
GEORGE:
And may it lead to many more!
I want to be
The first man you remember...
JENNY:
The very first
To sweep me off my feet.
GEORGE:
I want to be
The one you always turn to
JENNY:
The first to make
My young heart miss a beat.
GEORGE:
I want to be
The one you always turn to
I want to be
The one you won't regret...
GEORGE AND JENNY:
The very first...
The very first...
The two songs "Other Pleasures" and "The First Man You Remember" from Michael Crawford's musical Aspects of Love are both sung by the character of George, who reflects on his love for the character Jenny. In "Other Pleasures," George expresses his amazement at Jenny's extraordinary nature, marveling at her honesty and openness. He lists various pleasures he has known throughout his life, such as lazy afternoons in warm Venetian squares, long siestas, wild mimosa, and sailing on a silver lake, but ultimately concludes that none of these compare to Jenny. In "The First Man You Remember," George makes a plea to be remembered as the first man in Jenny's life. He wants to be the first man she thinks of when she wakes up and the last one she forgets before she sleeps. He wants to be the one she can always rely on and never regret. The two parts of the song are meant to show two different aspects of George's love for Jenny: awe and worship in "Other Pleasures" and a desire for commitment and partnership in "The First Man You Remember."
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny, You're a miracle!
Jenny, you are astonishing and wonderful.
Is there nothing you conceal?
Do you have any secrets?
Never hiding What you feel...
You always express yourself honestly.
Other pleasures...
There are other enjoyable experiences.
And I've known many...
I have had many different experiences.
Afternoons In warm Venetian squares, Brief encounters, Long siestas...
Examples of other pleasurable experiences I have had.
Pleasures old and new Can't compare with you.
None of those experiences compare to being with you.
You amaze me!
You are so impressive and surprising.
Where did you come from?
How did I get so lucky as to meet someone like you?
You do things Champagne could never do.
You bring me more joy than the finest champagne ever could.
Crystal winters, Crimson summers...
More examples of pleasurable experiences I have had.
I would trade them all For you.
I would give up all other experiences to be with you.
Wild mimosa,... The scent of evening... Shuttered rooms With sunlight breaking through... Crazy soirees... Lazy Sundays...
More examples of past enjoyable experiences.
Sailing off In the night On a silver lake... Taking more From this life Thank I ought to take...
Another example of a past experience that was enjoyable, but not as meaningful as being with you.
May I be first To say you look delightful?
May I be the first person to compliment your appearance?
May I be first To dance you round the floor?
May I be the first person to dance with you?
The very first To see your face by moonlight? The very first To walk you to your door?
May I also be the first to see your face in the moonlight and the first to walk you to your door?
Well, young man, I'd be delighted! There is nothing I would rather do! What could be a sweeter memory Than sharing my first dance with you?
Jenny is very happy to fulfill George's request and thinks that sharing her first dance with him will be a sweet memory.
The first man you remember...
George wants to be the first man that Jenny remembers.
The very first To sweep me off my feet.
George wants to be the first person to make Jenny fall in love.
The one you always turn to...
George wants to be the one that Jenny can always rely on.
The first to make My young heart miss a beat.
George wants to make Jenny's heart race with excitement and love.
Seems the stars are far below us...
George and Jenny are in a beautiful and romantic setting, such as a hill or high balcony.
The moon has never felt so close before...
The moon seems closer than ever because of the romantic atmosphere.
Our first dance will be forever...
George wants to make their first dance an unforgettable moment.
And may it lead to many more!
George hopes this dance will be the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship.
The very first...
George wants to be the very first and only one for Jenny.
The very first...
Reinforcing the fact that George wants to be the one and only for Jenny.
Writer(s): Andrew Lloyd Webber
Contributed by Julian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.