Saxophonist Sam Butera (August 17, 1927 – June 3, 2009) is best known for… Read Full Bio ↴Saxophonist Sam Butera (August 17, 1927 – June 3, 2009) is best known for the time he spent backing Louis Prima and Keely Smith. He started his career in New Orleans, but moved to Las Vegas in the early 50's when Louis Prima called his brother desperately needing a band to back him at The Sahara's Casbar Lounge. Leaving behind the Shim Sham club and New Orleans, he brought the rollicking New Orleans Rock n Roll sound to Las Vegas and stayed active in show biz throughout the ensuing decades. A dynamic and active septuagenarian, Butera continued to play regularly the clubs on the Vegas strip and occasional tour forays into the early millennium.

Tennessee Waltz
Sam Butera Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing

The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost

Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sam Butera's song "Tennessee Waltz" tells a story of a man who attended a dance with his loved one where he saw an old friend. He introduces his friend to his partner, but while they were dancing, his friend snatched his sweetheart away from him. He recounts the night and how he lost his little darling to the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.

The story conveyed in the lyric is one of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer was lost in his happiness and caught off guard, not anticipating his friend's action. The Tennessee Waltz, the popular ballad, serves as a metaphor for how the singer's relationship with his partner ended. The song captures the bitter experience of losing someone dear, particularly to a person whom one thought they could trust.

Line by Line Meaning

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
I was having a lovely time dancing with my beloved to the soothing melody of the Tennessee Waltz

When an old friend I happened to see
Suddenly, I saw an old acquaintance of mine

I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
I presented my old friend to my sweetheart, and they started dancing together

My friend stole my sweetheart from me
To my surprise, my friend took advantage of the situation and took my beloved away from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
I can still vividly recall that fateful night when the Tennessee Waltz was playing

Now I know just how much I have lost
Now I realize the magnitude of my loss

Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
Indeed, I lost my beloved on that night when the Tennessee Waltz was being played

The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
The beautiful but painful melody of the Tennessee Waltz, which reminds me of my loss

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Redd Stewart, Pee Wee King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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