Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian-born bandlead… Read Full Bio ↴Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian-born bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and continued well into the 1960s. Though his professional orchestra-leading career began at the height of the swing era, Faith refined and rethought orchestration techniques, including use of large string sections, to soften and fill out the brass-dominated popular music of the 1940s.

Serenade
Percy Faith & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Serenade in the night 'neath a fair lady's window
Just the same serenade that I tenderly played on a night long ago
There were stars in the sky and I sang 'neath the roses
But she gave not a sign that she'd ever be mine and my love story closes
Oh! why must the south wind be bringing it?
Oh! why must my heart keep on singing it?
Serenade in the night from the past comes to haunt me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Percy Faith & His Orchestra's song Serenade evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia. The singer is reminiscing about a past night when he played a serenade under a lady's window. The stars were shining, and he sang under the roses, but she didn't respond to his affection. Now, the memory of that night is coming back to haunt him. He wonders why the south wind is bringing this serenade back to him and why his heart keeps on singing it.

The serenade is a classic romantic gesture, traditionally performed by a man to express his love for a woman. The imagery of the stars and the roses adds to the romantic atmosphere of the song, creating a sense of wistful melancholy. The singer's unrequited love is a common theme in romantic music, making this song resonate with listeners who have experienced similar situations.

Overall, Serenade is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the essence of a romantic longing. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.

Line by Line Meaning

Serenade in the night 'neath a fair lady's window
A love song played at night under the window of a beautiful woman

Just the same serenade that I tenderly played on a night long ago
The same love song played with affection on a previous night

There were stars in the sky and I sang 'neath the roses
The singer performed the song under a starry sky, amidst roses

But she gave not a sign that she'd ever be mine and my love story closes
The woman did not respond to the singer's advances, leading to a tragic end of his love story

Oh! why must the south wind be bringing it?
The singer laments the fact that memories of the past continue to haunt him like the wind from the south

Oh! why must my heart keep on singing it?
Despite his sorrow, the singer's heart still sings the same love song over and over

Serenade in the night from the past comes to haunt me
The song from the past continues to haunt the singer, bringing back painful memories of unrequited love

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bixio Cherubini, Cesare Bixio

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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