Shadow Play
Noel Coward Lyrics

It isn't that I want to make you unhappy, but you must admit that we haven't been hitting it off particularly well during the last year, and surely if we're not comfortable together, the wisest thing is to separate.
I don't intend to cause you pain, but we have not been getting along well lately. If we are not happy together, it is best to go our separate ways.

I feel so sad about it inside. I wish I could make you understand. Everything was so lovely in the beginning.
I am deeply saddened by this situation. I long for you to comprehend how wonderful things were when we first started.

Things never stay the same. You can't expect what was lovely then to be lovely now.
Change is inevitable. It is unrealistic to assume that what was once beautiful will remain the same.

Why not? Why not? Then we were happy.
Why can't things go back to the way they were? We were blissful then.

But darling, you must see Here in the light of this unkind familiar now Every gesture is clear and cold for us Even yesterday's growing old for us Everything's changed somehow If some forgotten lover's vow Could wake a memory in my heart again Perhaps the joy that we knew would start again Can't we reclaim an hour or so? The past is not so long ago.
My love, you must understand that in the harsh reality of our current situation, every action feels distant and impersonal. Even the memories of yesterday are fading. Everything has changed. Perhaps if a lost promise of love could rekindle a memory in my heart, the happiness we once had could be revived. Can't we recapture some time together? The past is not too far behind us.

Then love was complete for us Then the days were sweet for us Life rose to its feet for us And stepped aside Before our pride Ah, then we knew the best of it Then our hearts stood the test of it Now, the magic has flown, We face the unknown Apart and alone.
During that time, our love was fulfilling. The days were filled with delight, and life worked in our favor. Our egos were not in the way. Oh, we experienced the pinnacle of happiness. Our hearts were strong and resilient. Now, the enchantment has faded away, and we confront an uncertain future without each other, feeling separated and alone.

Hurry, hurry. We're going back.
Quickly, quickly. Let's return to the past.

I'm not sure that I want to, I'm not at all sure. Maybe it won't be as lovely as I thought it was.
I'm hesitant about going back. I have doubts. Perhaps it won't be as wonderful as I had imagined.

Don't be a fool, grab it while you can, grab every scrap of happiness while you can. Quickly, quickly, we're going back.
Don't be foolish, seize the opportunity for happiness. Take hold of every bit of joy that comes your way. Hurry, hurry, we're returning to the past.

Okay, go on playing. We must have music.
Alright, continue playing. We need music to uplift our spirits.

Listen to the strain it plays once more for us, There it is again, the past in store for us
Listen to the melody it performs, evoking our memories once more. There it is again, the past waiting for us.

Wake in memory some forgotten song To break the rhythm driving us along And make harmony again, a last encore for us Play, orchestra play Play something sweet and light and gay For we must have music, we must have music To drive our fears away While our illusions swiftly fade for us Let’s have an orchestra score In the confusions the years have made for us Serenade for us just once more
Let a forgotten song awaken in our memories, interrupting the monotonous path we're on and restoring harmony one final time. Play, orchestra play. Perform something joyful and lighthearted, for we need music to dispel our fears. As our illusions quickly vanish, let the orchestra's music provide a soundtrack to the confusion that time has brought us. Serenade us once more.

Life needn’t be grey Though it’s changing day by day Though few old dreams may decay Play, orchestra play
Life does not have to be dull, even though it undergoes constant change. Despite a few fading dreams, the orchestra should continue playing.

Are you engaged for this dance?
Do you have a partner for this dance?

I was, but I'll cut it if you'll promise to love me always and never let anything or anybody come between us, ever.
I had a dance partner, but I'll decline and prioritize you if you promise to love me eternally and ensure that nothing or no one interferes with our relationship.

Of course, that's understood. I saw you in the ballroom, I wondered who you were.
Certainly, it's implied. I noticed you in the ballroom and was curious about your identity.

My name's Victoria, Victoria Marden.
I am called Victoria, Victoria Marden.

Mine's Simon Gayforth.
My name is Simon Gayforth.

How do you do?
Pleased to meet you.

Quite well, thank you.
I am doing fine, thank you.

I suppose you came down from London for the dance?
I assume you traveled from London to attend the dance?

I'm staying with the Bursbys
I am residing with the Bursby family.

What do you do?
What is your occupation?

I'm in a bank.
I work at a bank.

High up in a bank, or just sitting in a little cage, totting up things?
Are you in a high-ranking position at the bank, or are you merely a staff member crunching numbers in a small cubicle?

Quite high up, really. It's a very good bank.
Actually, I hold a rather senior position. It is an excellent bank.

I'm so glad
That makes me happy.

How lovely you are
You are incredibly charming.

No, no, that came later, you're skipping.
No, no, those words come later in the conversation. You're jumping ahead.

I'm so sorry
I apologize for my mistake.

You're nice and thin, your eyes are funny, you move easily. I'm afraid you're terribly attractive
You have a pleasant slim figure, your eyes have a playful quality, and you have a graceful way of moving. I must admit, you are extremely appealing.

You never said that
You never expressed those words.

No, but I thought it
No, but I had that thought.

Stick to the script
Please follow the planned conversation.

Small talk, a lot of small talk, with other thoughts quite different going on behind. This garden's really lovely. Are you good at gardens?
Superficial conversation filled with unrelated thoughts occurring in the background. This garden is truly beautiful. Do you have a talent for gardening?

Not very, but I'm persevering. I'm all right on the more straightforward blooms like snapdragon and cornflower and tobacco plant. And I can tell a Dorothy Perkins a mile off.
I'm not particularly skilled, but I am determined to improve. I can handle simpler flowers like snapdragons, cornflowers, and tobacco plants. I can easily identify a Dorothy Perkins rose.

That hedge over there is called Cupressus Macrocarpa
That particular hedge over there is known as Cupressus Macrocarpa.

Do you swear it?
Are you certain?

It grows terribly quickly, but they do say it goes a little thin underneath in about twenty years
It grows astonishingly fast, but rumors suggest that it becomes sparse underneath after around twenty years.

How beastly of them to say that. It's slander.
Those who spread such rumors are being cruel. It's a form of defamation.

Do you know about valerian smelling of cats?
Have you heard about valerian having a scent reminiscent of cats?

You're showing off again.
You are once again displaying your knowledge.

It's true
That statement is accurate.

I can go one better than that. Lotuses smell of pineapple
I can top that. Lotuses have a fragrance resembling pineapple.

Oh, dear. Everything smells of something else. It's dreadfully confusing.
Oh, my. Every scent seems to resemble something different. It's terribly perplexing.

Never mind, darling, I love you desperately, I knew it the first second I saw you.
Don't worry, my dear. I have an intense love for you. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you.

No, no, no, You're skipping again.
No, no, no, you're skipping ahead once more.

Was it in the real world Or was it in a dream? Or was it just a note in some eternal theme? Was it accidental? Or accurately planned? How could I hesitate Knowing that my fate Led me by the hand?
Was it a real-life experience, or did it occur in a dream? Or was it merely a fragment of some timeless melody? Was it a coincidence, or did it unfold according to a precise plan? How could I have any doubts when I know that fate guided me?

You were there I saw you and my heart stopped beating You were there And in that first enchanted meeting Life changed its tune The stars, the moon came near to me Dreams that I dreamed Like magic seemed to be clear to me, dear to me You were there Your eyes looked into mine and faltered Everywhere The color of the whole world altered False came true My universe tumbled in two The earth became heaven for you were there
You were present in my life. When I laid eyes on you, my heart skipped a beat. In that initial, magical encounter, everything changed. The stars and the moon felt closer to me. Dreams I had envisioned seemed to materialize as if by magic, and they became precious to me. You were there. Your gaze locked with mine, causing a shift in perception. The entire world's colors appeared different. The improbable became real. My world turned upside down due to your presence, and the earth became a heavenly place because you were there.

You were there I saw you and my heart stopped beating You were there And in that first enchanted meeting Life changed its tune The stars, the moon came near to me Dreams that I dreamed Like magic seemed to be clear to me, dear to me You were there Your eyes looked into mine and faltered Everywhere The color of the whole world altered False came true My universe tumbled in two The earth became heaven for you were there
You were present in my life. When I laid eyes on you, my heart skipped a beat. In that initial, magical encounter, everything changed. The stars and the moon felt closer to me. Dreams I had envisioned seemed to materialize as if by magic, and they became precious to me. You were there. Your gaze locked with mine, causing a shift in perception. The entire world's colors appeared different. The improbable became real. My world turned upside down due to your presence, and the earth became a heavenly place because you were there.

You were there Your eyes looked into mine and faltered Everywhere The color of the whole world altered False came true My universe tumbled in two The earth became heaven for you were there
You were present. When our eyes met, you hesitated for a moment. The colors of the entire world seemed to change. The improbable became a reality, and my universe shattered into two halves. With you by my side, the earth transformed into heaven.