Michel Legrand made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life", "Watch What Happens" and "The Summer Knows") have been recorded many times by jazz musicians.
How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
Michel Legrand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you make it last?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you lose yourself to someone
And never lose your way?
How do you not run out of new things to say?
And since you know we're always changing
How can it be the same?
You're sure your heart will fall apart
Each time you hear his name?
I know the way I feel for you it's now or never
The more I love, the more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever, forever
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with every day to make it better as it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends
I know, the way I feel for you
It's now or never
The more I love, the more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever, forever
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with every day to make it better as it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends
The song "How do you keep the music playing?" by Michel Legrand is considered one of the greatest love songs of all time. It is an introspective piece that explores the complexities of a long-lasting relationship and how to keep the love alive. The song is full of questions, such as "How do you keep the song from fading too fast?", "How do you lose yourself to someone and never lose your way?" and "How do you not run out of new things to say?".
The song shows that love requires commitment, effort, and dedication to keep the fire of passion and romance burning. At the same time, it acknowledges the fact that relationships are not static, and people change over time. Therefore, the song suggests that love should be adaptable and resilient enough to withstand the test of time.
The refrain of the song repeats the lines "If we can be the best of lovers, Yet be the best of friends, If we can try with every day to make it better as it grows, With any luck then I suppose, The music never ends." This refrain explains the key to maintaining a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. It suggests that a successful relationship hinges on the balance between passion and friendship. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of constant effort to make the relationship better each day.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you keep the music playing?
How do you sustain the love and passion in a relationship?
How do you make it last?
How do you ensure that the relationship lasts for a long time?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you prevent the relationship from becoming dull and losing its spark too soon?
How do you lose yourself to someone
And never lose your way?
How do you deeply love and commit to someone without losing your sense of self or direction in life?
How do you not run out of new things to say?
How do you keep the conversation fresh and engaging with your partner over time?
And since you know we're always changing
How can it be the same?
Given that both partners in a relationship are constantly evolving and growing, how can the love and connection between them remain consistent?
And tell me how year after year
You're sure your heart will fall apart
Each time you hear his name?
How do you deal with the intensity of emotion that comes from being deeply in love with someone, to the point where just hearing their name can feel overwhelming?
I know the way I feel for you it's now or never
The more I love, the more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever, forever
I know that I have strong feelings for you and that I want to commit to you fully, but I am also afraid that our love may not be forever.
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with every day to make it better as it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends
If we can maintain a strong romantic connection while also being supportive friends, and continuously work to strengthen our relationship over time, then hopefully our love will never fade.
I know, the way I feel for you
It's now or never
The more I love, the more that I'm afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever, forever
I once again acknowledge that I have very strong feelings for you, but these feelings are accompanied by a fear that our love may not last forever.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore
Written by: Michel Jean Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Albert Van Kleeck
I love listening to the composers sing their work whether they have a great voice or not. Their delivery ALWAYS captures the soul of the song. Also, how great is it to have a song that tells a story and not just one line or two that gets repeated over and over and over?
Harry Giovanoni
This is one of the prettiest songs ever written. Michel has written several beautiful songs and I think this is his best. I never knew he could sing and sing so well. RIP Michel and know your music will last forever and ever. The summer knows this.
Fabio Passos da Silva
This is one of the authentic classical song of the greatest composer Michel Legrand. It is a gift of God for us.Thank you an RIP.
Maria Miller
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER.. SO GLAD I CAME ACROSS THIS RENDITION... MS. KUH AND MICHEL.... R.I.P SIR... U R TRULY MISSED... ♥️♥️🙏🙌
Jake Mercado
Kuh voice is velvety in texture,rounded soulful ang sarap pakinggan.kahit hindi bumirit.
Mason Jarre
IMHO, Michel Le Grand was a melodic genius. His melodies are always fresh, stunning in a deep easy naive way. Such talent is a gift. RIP Michel!
arturo robles
Wowww First time I hear Michele Legrand singing..... Outstanding
Cecil Williams
How could one possibly even try to oneupsman a performance like this? It's magic. RIP Michel Legrand and thank you for adding so much enjoyment to my life and the masterpiece is apropos for living in the real world.
Annaliza Saldua Villaflor
Classic and classy.Love the arrangement and love the singers😍
lori mondejar
Rest in Peace, Michel Legrand, who wrote "The Windmills of Your Mind."
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of its face,
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space,
Like the circles that you find,
In the windmills of your mind.