As Time Goes By
Rudy Vallee & His Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply as time goes by

And when two lovers woo
They still say "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings, as time goes by

Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory




A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 'As Time Goes By' by Rudy Vallée and His Connecticut Yankees reflect the idea that the fundamental things in relationships never change with time. The song describes how a kiss and a sigh have the same meaning now as they did in the past. The lyrics suggest that people will always say "I love you" when they are in love, and that love, passion, jealousy, and hate are emotions that never go out of style. Moreover, men and women will forever be drawn to each other, forming an inseparable bond that no one can deny.


The song goes on to say that love is a timeless concept that endures no matter what changes occur in the world. This idea is captured in the lines "The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by." The song also talks about the idea of a fight for love and glory, emphasizing the idea that true love is worth fighting for. Overall, the lyrics of 'As Time Goes By' convey a message of love and the power that it holds, something that transcends time and remains eternal.


Line by Line Meaning

You must remember this
This refers to special memories, a story or a time that's unforgettable, which is crucial to remember.


A kiss is still a kiss
Even though time has passed, kisses still hold the same romantic value and significance.


A sigh is just a sigh
Sighs still convey the same human emotions and feelings today as they used to demonstrate years ago.


The fundamental things apply as time goes by
Regardless of how decades pass, the essential things that matter most in life remain constant and significant.


And when two lovers woo
At present, as in the past, people show genuine affection and courtship when they fall in love.


They still say "I love you"
Regardless of how love is expressed, hearing "I love you" makes a deep impact.


On that you can rely
When someone expresses their love, it's consistent and firm, and you can count on it.


No matter what the future brings, as time goes by
Despite the changes and flux of time, love will always be a constant in the present and future.


Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Traditional symbols of romance such as moonlight and love songs haven't lost their desirability and allure.


Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Human hearts still hold onto strong, intense feelings, both positive and negative.


Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
Attraction and relationship between men and women are essential human needs and inevitable aspects of life.


That no one can deny
These needs and emotions are undeniable and integral parts of human existence.


It's still the same old story
Although history repeats itself, the theme of romantic relationships never loses its allure.


A fight for love and glory
In relationships, many people struggle for love and the excitement of triumph or the desire to be heroic.


A case of do or die
In love and relationships, it's critical to take decisive action, and the stakes are often high.


The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by
Despite aversion or negativity toward love, the world always welcomes and celebrates new couples with joy and excitement.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Herman Hupfeld

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@arifagungwijanarko4780

This day and age we're living
This cause for apprehension
This speed and new invention
And things like third dimension
Yet we get a trifle weary
With Mr. Einstein's Theory
For we must get down to earth at time
Relax, relieve the tension
.
No matter what the progress of what may have improved,
The simple facts of life are such, they cannot be removed
.
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply as time goes by
.
And when two lovers woo
They still say "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings, as time goes by
.
Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny
.
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by



All comments from YouTube:

@AvitalShtap

HURRAY! I had assumed this was an Al Bowlly hit and was hoping someone had recorded it in 1931, what luck it was the talent of Rudy Vallee! SWELL :)

@wowyourereallyreadingthis

i wish... Al unfortunately died a year before Casablanca became a hit

@andrewb731

The really striking thing about these pre-1940 songs is how many of them have an introductory verse (in this case: "this day and age we're living in...") before the main verse ("you must remember this..."). Such verses were always excised from later versions, and all pop music pretty much stopped having such introductions after the late 1930s. Songs fell into a rigid verse/verse/chorus/verse pattern moving forward. Does anyone know why?

@keegster7167

Yeah I'm curious about this too! But in what other songs have you found this sort of introduction?

@joshn938

I think I may have an inkling. I believe it derives from two separate sources: the first being that many songs of this period were tied into movies and Broadway shows, so many songs with an "introduction" may have been part of a play originally. Perhaps not this particular tune, but it can explain some of the influence and say, setting context for the song. The second being that there was an element of vaudeville into the 1920s and lasting into the late 30s. When vaudeville fell out of favor during WWII, so did popular music and the structure of songs changed in postwar America, especially with the proliferation of Rock and Roll in the 1950s.

@andrewb731

@@joshn938 Thank you.

@stephenkandilotis7813

It's fantastic to preserve old recordings. Historical recordings from a different era.

@ZooxMaze

The quality of this '78 recording is exquisite ! Rudy's voice - so clear... his bell-tone lilting, floats so easily...

A complete contrast to the irrespresable charming, brashness of Al Jolson - such a excellent counterpart to Mr. Valee's approach ! But both, aboslute timeless treasures :))

@ragpiano

I play this song on the piano and I've been trying to find a version that I can listen to where I could hear the verse and then the chorus cause most people started out with the chorus and you don't ever really hear the verse. I've always played it with the verse 1st And then the chorus which makes a lot more sense and the verses are really nice especially music wise.

@BalticFilms144

These lyrics go hard, even today it's still relevant.

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