Of Thee I Sing
Michael Feinstein Lyrics
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Let those who will take care of it's rights and wrongs
What care I who care for the world's affairs
As long as I can sing this popular song
Let me sing a funny song with crazy words that roll along
And if my song can start you laughing I'm happy, so happy
Let me sing a sad refrain of broken hears that love in vain
And if my song can start you crying I'm happy
If my song can reach your shoes
And start you tapping your feet, I'm happy
Let me sing of Dixie's charms
Cotton fields and mammy's arms
And if my song can make you homesick I'm happy
I'm happy
Let me sing of Dixie's charms
Cotton fields and mammy's arms
And if my song can make you homesick I'm happy
The lyrics to Michael Feinstein's song "Of Thee I Sing" depict a deep, affectionate love for someone or something that is portrayed as the shining star and inspiration worthy of a mighty nation. The opening lines describe the breadth and depth of this love, spanning from the island of Manhattan to the coast of gold, reflecting the vast expanse of the United States. The second line declares, "You are the love, I love the best," emphasizing the singer's intense devotion to this person, ideal, or concept.
The next two lines offer a metaphor, likening the subject of the song to a dreamboat in the sweetest story ever told. This reinforces the idea that this is something or someone truly special, both desirable and idyllic, that serves as a source of hope and joy. The third stanza reveals that the singer has been seeking this dream for years throughout the U.S.A but has finally found it in the person or ideal being sung about. The final stanza repeats the refrain of "Of thee, I sing," emphasizing once again the central focus of the song and the intensity of the singer's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
From the island of Manhattan to the coast of gold
From one famous coast of the United States to another, the feelings I have for you never weaken or grow old.
From north to south, from east to west
No matter where I go or where I roam, I'll always be in love with home.
You are the love, I love the best
Out of all the people I've met in this great nation, you are the one who has captured my heart's affection.
You`re the dreamboat in the sweetest story ever told
You're the one who makes my heart sing, the one who fits every part of my ideal love story's mold.
A dream I sought, both night and day
I dreamed of finding true love every moment, both awake and asleep, in every way.
For years through all, the U.S.A.
Through all the states and countless cities, I searched for a love that could make me feel complete.
The star I hitched my wagon to
You're the celestial body I've tied my love to, the goal in the sky that's guided my heart anew.
Is very obviously you
For all the world to see and hear, it's undoubtedly you who I hold most dear.
Of thee I sing, baby
I sing of your beauty and grace, of the love between us that time cannot erase.
Summer, autumn, winter, spring, baby.
No matter the season, my love for you always stays in full swing.
You`re my silver lining,
You're the bright spot in my day, the one who keeps all my troubles at bay.
You`re my sky of blue
Like a clear blue sky on a sunny day, your presence always lifts me up and guides me on my way.
There`s a lovelight shining
There's a light that shines within you, a beacon of love that will forever renew.
Just because of you.
It's because of your love that my heart feels so true.
You have got that certain thing, baby
There's something special about you that makes my heart sing, something that sets you apart as the queen of everything.
Shining star and inspiration
You're the bright star in my life, the one who gives me hope and endless inspiration, even in strife.
Worthy of a mighty nation,
You are the kind of love that our great nation deserves, the kind that is brave, strong, and preserves.
Of thee I sing.
Your love is an anthem to my heart, a song that I will always delight to sing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind