My Old Flame
Peggy Lee Lyrics


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My old flame
I can't even think of his name
But it's funny now and then
How my thoughts go flashing back again
To my old flame
My old flame
My new lovers all seem so tame
For I haven't met a gent

So innocent or elegant
As my old flame

I've met so many men
With fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Some who sent me up to the skies
But their attempts at love
Were only imitations of
My old flame
I can't even think of his name
But I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became
Of my old flame

I've met so many men
With fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Some who sent me up to the skies
But their attempts at love
Were only imitations of
My old flame
I can't even think of his name
But I'll never be the same





Until I discover what became
Of my old flame

Overall Meaning

In Peggy Lee's "My Old Flame", she muses about an old love interest whom she cannot even remember by name. However, she still finds herself thinking about him every now and then, and how all her new lovers seem unexciting in comparison to him. Peggy Lee suggests that although she has met many men with their unique charms and captivating gazes, none of them have matched the innocence and elegance of her old flame.


Through this song, Peggy Lee captures the memory of a lost love and the lingering feelings that come with it. The lyrics convey a sense of wistfulness and nostalgia, as she reflects on what could have been and what has become of her old flame. Peggy Lee's vocals and the melancholic jazz melody complement the sentimental lyrics to create an emotional and captivating piece.


Line by Line Meaning

My old flame
The person I used to love


I can't even think of his name
I don't remember his name


But it's funny now and then
It's amusing sometimes


How my thoughts go flashing back again
How memories come back suddenly


To my old flame
To the person I used to love


My new lovers all seem so tame
My current partners seem boring


For I haven't met a gent
I haven't met a gentleman


So innocent or elegant
As kind and sophisticated as my old flame


I've met so many men
I have met many men


With fascinating ways
Who are interesting in various ways


A fascinating gaze in their eyes
Who have captivating eyes


Some who sent me up to the skies
Some who made me feel incredibly happy


But their attempts at love
But their efforts to love me


Were only imitations of
Were only copies of


My old flame
The person I used to love


But I'll never be the same
But I will never be unchanged


Until I discover what became
Until I find out what happened


Of my old flame
To the person I used to love




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@katherinesage

doesn't get better.... my Mother's generation.... 1924 NYC

@CarlHalling

It was the late 1960s. I was a Pop/Rock kid, weaned on the Beat since Beatlemania and the Stones. But being driven back as a dreamer of a teenager to nautical college by my parents of a Sunday night after a solitary day's leave, I'd listen on a cassette player to Peggy singing this song and others with Benny Goodman, and I loved what I heard. I still love it, and I'm 53 now.

@golson33

I'm 77 now and NEVER get tired of listening to this lovely lady. What a lesson or two she could give these younger generation(s).......

@davidalen2590

Fabulous

@newellgirl

Totally awesome..reminds one of the "golden generation" the folks from WW2 who protected us from tyranny and left a world to enjoy in relative peace for Christmas..i wont forgot those who sleep eternally in the Pacific for our freedom.

@pinkieldred

Peggy Lee... Oh Peggy how you could sing! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have you around to give these so called rock singers of today...a few lessons!

@0001943

Great! I love these big band girl singers!

@ENACODNOM

Delightful! It really deserves the two takes.

@FelixPheonix

I tried singing this song , before listening to it , by looking at the lyrics. I've never heard it before and I got it pretty close. Woohoo! :D

@jerry-skids

I was just watching a biography on Mae West. They showed a brief clip of her singing this song. It was extremely haunting and sort of daunting. I never heard that song before, but I love it.

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