Serenade
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; David Lloyd-Jones Lyrics
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Right out of space your haunting face appears
There were other serenades broken promises we made
Why must I pay day after day with tears
Alone in my room I watch the ghost of you
Alone in the gloom once more I'm close to you
Melancholy serenade as the music starts to fade
I feel your kiss and then you disappear
Alone in the gloom once more I'm close to you
Melancholy serenade as the music starts to fade
I feel your kiss and then you disappear
The song "Serenade" appears to be a tale of heartbreak and longing. The melancholic yet romantic tone of the music serves to enhance the sense of yearning and loss described in the lyrics. The imagery of a haunting face and broken promises adds to the overall sense of sadness and regret that permeates the song.
The lyrics suggest that the singer has experienced a failed relationship, perhaps with the person whose haunting face they see when they hear the serenade. The reference to "other serenades" implies that this person was not the only romantic interest in the singer's life, but it is the memory of them that lingers on. The line "Why must I pay day after day with tears" suggests that the singer is struggling to move on from this person and is still deeply affected by their absence.
The final verse is particularly poignant as the singer describes the feeling of being alone in the room with only the memory of the lost love. The music fades, and the kiss of the person they long for disappears with it, leaving them once again in the gloom. The use of repetition in the final lines emphasizes the sense of loss and the inability to let go.
Overall, "Serenade" is a moving portrayal of a heart that is still searching for love and haunted by the pain of past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Melancholy serenade every time I hear it played
Whenever I hear this mournful melody, it reminds me of my sorrowful past.
Right out of space your haunting face appears
Whenever I hear this tune, I have a vision of your ghostly visage.
There were other serenades broken promises we made
We used to enjoy these types of songs, but then we let each other down with unfulfilled commitments.
Why must I pay day after day with tears
It pains me deeply every day to remember the love we lost and the mistakes we made together.
Alone in my room I watch the ghost of you
When I am alone in my room, I reminisce vividly about our past, and can almost feel your presence.
Alone in the gloom once more I'm close to you
In the darkness of my solitude, it feels as if we are reunited once again, if only in my imagination.
Melancholy serenade as the music starts to fade
As the music begins to dwindle, I am left to contemplate the fading memories of what could have been.
I feel your kiss and then you disappear
In my mind's eye, I can relive the sensation of your kiss, but it only reinforces the truth that you are gone.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Duke Enston, Jackie Gleason
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind