In 1968, Goulet was on Broadway in the Kander and Ebb musical, The Happy Time. He appeared in a 1982 production of Rose-Marie with Inga Swenson, and in 2005 appeared in the Broadway revival of Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles. Goulet began a recording career with Columbia Records in 1962 which resulted in more than 15 albums.
Goulet began working in films in 1962, providing the voice of one of the characters in the animated feature Gay Purr-ee opposite Judy Garland. His first acting role was in His and Hers (1964), but it was not until a cameo appearance as a singer in Louis Malle's Atlantic City (1980) that Goulet was given critical acclaim. He recorded the song Atlantic City (My Old Friend) for Applause Records in 1981.
He was absent from the screen for seven years until he was cast by Tim Burton as a houseguest blown through the roof by Beetlejuice and also played himself in Bill Murray's Scrooged (both 1988). In 1990, he sang the Canadian national anthem at the beginning of WrestleMania VI, which was held at the Toronto Skydome in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
In 1991, Goulet starred, along with John Putch and Hillary Bailey Smith, in the unsold television series pilot Acting Sheriff. That same year he appeared as the bad guy known as 'Quentin Hapsburg' opposite Leslie Nielsen in the comedy The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.
In 1993, he played himself in the Simpsons episode $pringfield. In that episode, he sang the well-known Jingle Bells (Batman Smells), although he has yet to record the song commercially. In 1996, he appeared in Ellen DeGeneres' first starring vehicle, Mr. Wrong, as an insecure TV host. Goulet has also appeared in the Disney cartoon, 'Recess', as the singing voice for Mikey Blumberg, in numerous episodes.
the way we were
Robert Goulet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Could we?
Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were
The way we were
In Robert Goulet's song "The Way We Were", the lyrics reminisce on the memories of a past relationship. The artist refers to the way things were between him and his former love interest, the smiles they shared and the moments they spent together. As he looks back on those experiences, he realizes that those times may have been much more straightforward and simpler than his present life.
However, he is unsure if time has distorted his memories and if, given the opportunity to relive it all again, they would end up in the same place. The nostalgia he feels is bittersweet because it brings back the good times they shared but also the heartbreak he endured when they went their separate ways. The second verse reveals that not all memories are beautiful and some are too painful to remember. Therefore, he chooses to focus on the joyful moments and the laughter they shared together.
Overall, "The Way We Were" is a song about reminiscing on past relationships and the mixed emotions nostalgia can bring. The lyrics suggest that even though times may have been simpler back then, there is no guarantee that things would turn out the same way if given another chance.
Line by Line Meaning
Memories light the corners of my mind
The memories of our past are present in my mind, and they remind me of the past.
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
My memories are hazy, almost like they are painted in watercolours, but they still remind me of how things used to be.
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
I have lots of little memories of the times when we were happy, and those happy moments are what I hold onto.
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
We were happy, and we smiled at each other for simply being together and experiencing those happy times.
Can it be that it was all so simple then
I can't believe that things used to be so simple for us, and I miss that simplicity now.
Or has time rewritten every line
Time has passed, and things have changed. Memories can become distorted or muddled, almost like words that have been rewritten.
If we had the chance to do it all again
If we could go back in time and relive those moments, would we do everything the same or make different choices?
Tell me, would we?
Would we make the same choices again, or would we do things differently with the knowledge we have now?
Could we?
It's hard to say if we could do it all again, especially since we can't go back in time.
Memories may be beautiful and yet
Even if our memories are beautiful, sometimes painful and sad memories are just as important and meaningful.
What's too painful to remember
Sometimes there are memories that are too painful to think about, so we choose to bury them and forget about them.
We simply choose to forget
We have the power to choose what we remember and what we forget. Sometimes it's easier to forget the painful memories and focus on the happy ones.
So it's the laughter we will remember
In the end, it's the happy memories, the ones that made us laugh, that we will hold onto and cherish the most.
Whenever we remember
Every time we think about those memories, we are transported back to those moments and can relive them in our minds.
The way we were
Thinking about the past reminds us of how things used to be, and it's natural to feel nostalgic and wish to relive some of those experiences.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind