Mandy
Rosemary Clooney (1) Lyrics

The lyrics for Rosemary Clooney's song Mandy describe a man strolling out on an evening lit by a silvery moon, when he hears someone singing a familiar tune. He stops to listen, not wanting to miss a single word, and hears the song's title name. The singer proceeds to make a proposal to Mandy, stating that there is a handy minister who could marry them, urging her to accept the ring, and come along to let the wedding chimes create happy times for them.

The lyrics of Mandy, though seemingly simple and straightforward, are actually layered with different elements of storytelling. The character narrating the song is not Mandy, but an unknown, intrusive suitor who overhears someone else's proposal to her whimsical and romantic in place and timing. It could be said that the song is about how the suitor is hit with the realization that time is passing him by the minute, and he may miss out on his chance of a perfect marriage. It is an ode to the painful regrowth from loss, which makes the songwriter deny his original plan to stay aloof and affirms the importance of taking chances.