Speak Low
O'Day Anita Lyrics
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Our summer day withers away
Too soon, too soon.
Speak low when you speak, love,
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
We're swept apart too soon.
Speak low, darling speak low,
Too soon, too soon,
I feel wherever I go
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
And always too soon.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
We're late darling, we're late,
The curtain descends, everything ends
Too soon, too soon,
I wait darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me and soon.
The lyrics "Speak Low" by Anita O'Day is a melancholic song about the fleeting nature of love and time. The song begins with O'Day imploring her lover to speak softly when expressing their love, as the summer day and their moment together are swiftly coming to an end. The lyrics paint a picture of two ships drifting apart, never to meet again. O'Day's voice captures the sense of urgency in the song, imparting a melancholic quality that reflects the impermanence of the moment.
The lyrics reveal that love is a spark that can be easily lost in the dark, a feeling that's too pure and fleeting for this world. The song's message seems to be that time is powerful and unstoppable, and life's greatest moments can pass us by if we don't pay attention to them. The final verse is the most poignant, as O'Day regrets that love is brief while time is eternal, and she looks forward to a love that will never end.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak low when you speak, love,
Lower your voice when you talk about love, so as to keep its nature a secret and sacred one.
Our summer day withers away
Our happy and warm times decay as quickly as a summer day.
Too soon, too soon.
Things come to an end soon, even before we get to enjoy them.
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
The moments we spend together are short-lived and pass quickly like ships that have lost their direction.
We're swept apart too soon.
Our separation comes soon and suddenly.
Speak low, darling speak low,
The singer wants their partner to keep their voice low while expressing love.
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Love is a delicate emotion that is easily extinguished as darkness engulfs it.
I feel wherever I go
No matter where the artist goes, they have a sense that their time is limited.
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
The future is fast approaching and the present will soon become the past.
And always too soon.
The passing of time feels like it's happening too quickly.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Time seems to have been around forever, while love is fleeting and brief.
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
Love is invaluable and precious, yet time steals it away.
We're late darling, we're late,
The singer feels like they're running out of time and running late.
The curtain descends, everything ends
Life is like a stage performance, and when the curtain closes, everything comes to an end.
Too soon, too soon,
Things end quickly and abruptly.
I wait darling, I wait
The artist is waiting for their lover to speak softly and lovingly to them.
Will you speak low to me,
The artist is asking their lover to whisper softly to them.
Speak love to me and soon.
The singer wants their lover to share their love with them as soon as possible.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind