What Child Is This
Percy Faith and His Orchestra & Chorus Lyrics

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I was a hum-drum person
Leading a life apart
When love flew in through my window wide
And quickened my hum-drum heart
Love flew in through my window
I was so happy then
But after love had stayed a little while
Love flew out again

What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve its mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?
I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw my heart away
That's why I ask the Lawd up in Heaven above
What is this thing called love?

You gave me days of sunshine
You gave me nights of cheer
You made my life an enchanted dream
'Til somebody else came near
Somebody else came near you
I felt the winter's chill

And now I sit and wonder night and day
Why I love you still

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Percy Faith and His Orchestra & Chorus's song What Child Is This tell a story of love and heartbreak. The first stanza describes a person leading a mundane life until love enters through their window and brings life to their heart. However, the happiness is short-lived as love eventually leaves once again. The second stanza questions the nature of love and why it can make a person feel like a fool. The singer then shares a personal experience of falling in love with someone, who eventually left them for someone else. Despite the heartbreak, the singer still wonders why they continue to love this person.

The lyrics are a bittersweet commentary on the complexities of love. The first stanza captures the excitement and thrill of falling in love, while the second stanza questions the value of that experience if it ultimately leads to heartbreak. The repeated refrain, "What is this thing called love?" highlights the confusion and uncertainty that can come with romantic relationships. Overall, the song paints a poignant picture of the highs and lows of love and the enduring mystery of human connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I was a hum-drum person
I was dull and uninteresting

Leading a life apart
Living an isolated and lonely existence

When love flew in through my window wide
When I unexpectedly fell in love

And quickened my hum-drum heart
And brought me to life emotionally

Love flew in through my window
Love entered my life like a gust of wind

I was so happy then
I was full of joy and contentment

But after love had stayed a little while
But eventually, the love left

Love flew out again
The love vanished

What is this thing called love?
What is the true nature of this emotion called love?

This funny thing called love?
This strange and sometimes amusing concept of love?

Just who can solve its mystery?
Can anyone truly understand the enigma of love?