Where Is Love?
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics


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Ya see a pair of laughing eyes,
And suddenly you're sighing sighs.
You're thinkin' nothin's wrong,
You string along, boy, then SNAP!

Those eyes, those sighs -
They're part of the tender trap.
You're hand in hand beneath the trees,
And soon there's music in the breeze.

You're actin' kind of smug
Until your heart just goes WHAP!
Those trees, that breeze -
They're part of the tender trap.

Some starry night,
When her kisses make you tingle,
She'll hold you tight
And you'll hate yourself for being single.

And all at once it seems so nice,
The folks are throwin' shoes and rice.
You hurry to a spot that's just a dot on the map.
You're hooked, you're cooked,
You're caught in the tender trap.

Some starry night,
When her kisses make you tingle,
She'll hold you tight
And you'll hate yourself for bein' single.
And all at once it seems so nice,

The folks are throwin' shoes and rice.
You hurry to a spot that's just a dot on the map.
And then you wonder how it all came about,




It's too late now, there's no gettin' out -
You fell in love, and love is the tender trap.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Tender Trap" by Sammy Davis Jr. and Laurindo Almeida talks about the perils of falling in love. The lyrics describe how the sight of a pair of laughing eyes can make one feel happy and carefree, until they suddenly realize they have fallen into a trap. They become smug, thinking they have everything under control, until their hearts take over and they fall in love. They find themselves embroiled in a situation they cannot escape from and wonder how it all happened.


The chorus describes the feeling of being caught in the tender trap. The tender trap refers to the lure of love, the feeling of being captivated by someone's charms and unable to resist their affection. The lyrics suggest that falling in love can be both wonderful and dangerous, as it can lead to heartbreak and regret if not handled carefully.


Overall, the song captures the universal experience of falling in love, with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows. It reminds us that love is not always easy but is worth the risk.


Line by Line Meaning

Ya see a pair of laughing eyes,
When you notice someone's happy eyes,


And suddenly you're sighing sighs.
You start to feel emotionally affected.


You're thinkin' nothin's wrong,
You believe there is no danger.


You string along, boy, then SNAP!
You get caught in a trap that you can not escape.


Those eyes, those sighs -
The happiness in her/his eyes and your emotional response are


They're part of the tender trap.
ingredients to what's about to come.


You're hand in hand beneath the trees,
Walking with your beloved beneath the trees,


And soon there's music in the breeze.
Everything feels like music and joy that you feel.


You're actin' kind of smug
You start feeling good about yourself.


Until your heart just goes WHAP!
Suddenly, everything changes and you feel like you've been hit.


Those trees, that breeze -
The sounds, the environment contribute to emotional turbulence.


They're part of the tender trap.
All these things are leading to a trap.


Some starry night,
On a beautiful night


When her kisses make you tingle,
When her kisses provoke beautiful feelings


She'll hold you tight
She will embrace you tightly.


And you'll hate yourself for being single.
You'll start regretting your earlier single status.


And all at once it seems so nice,
It feels like everything is perfect.


The folks are throwin' shoes and rice.
Everyone is happily celebrating your union.


You hurry to a spot that's just a dot on the map.
You rush to a location, which is still insignificant.


You're hooked, you're cooked,
You are trapped and cooked like a bait.


You're caught in the tender trap.
You are subject to the tender trap is laid, and there's no escape.


And then you wonder how it all came about,
Suddenly, you start questioning your choices.


It's too late now, there's no gettin' out -
However, now it's too late to get out of the situation.


You fell in love, and love is the tender trap.
You have entirely fallen into the trap of love.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@WarriorOfGhengisKhan

What a beautiful rendition. Sammy was so talented and such a kind soul. 

@mandli14

What a true but melancholy song for a man looking for his soulmate.

@Poeme340

Yes☮️

@pnascimento100

The perfect joining:Sammy and the Brazilian Laurindo on guitar...

@EdWaldrup

An historic pairing on an historic album. Unforgettable. Simply incredible.

@CarlMoore1957

I asked my friend, charles Gamble, why i wasn't getting any gigs with the local heavywieghts. He said" You can't swing" and then he gave me some songs to woodshed on....this album was one of them. That was thirty years ago...I don't know if i can swing any better...but at least I found a true musical gem! Its still breathtaking!

@carol1938ann

Thank you for a very beautiful song. Almeida's arrangement is incredible. I can hardly wait to play this video for my guitar teacher.

@joeyb4ever

One of the best entertainers ever.

@giri.goyo_yt

Wowzers! Never heard this. Two of my faves, too!!! THANKS SO MUCH.

@IMdRightGirl

Blissful.

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