Invitation
Sarah Vaughan Lyrics


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You and your smile
Hold a strange invitation
Somehow it seems
We've shared our dreams
But where?

Time after time
In a room full of strangers
Out of the blue
Suddenly you are there

Wherever I go
You're the glow of temptation
Glancing my way
In the gray of the dawn

And always your eyes
Smile that strange invitation
When you are gone
Where oh, where have you gone?

How long must I stay
In a world of illusion?
Be where you are
So near yet so far apart

Hoping you'll say
With a warm invitation
Where have you been?
Darling, come in into my heart

Wherever I go
You're the glow of temptation
Glancing my way
In the gray of the dawn

And always your eyes
Smile that strange invitation
When you are gone
Where oh, where have you gone?

How long must I stay
In a world of illusion?
Be where you are
So near yet so far apart

Hoping you'll say
With a warm invitation




Where have you been?
Darling, come in into my heart

Overall Meaning

Sarah Vaughan's song "Invitation" is all about how the singer is drawn to someone who seems familiar but who she can't quite place. She sings about the person's smile, which is somehow inviting her in, and about how their eyes always seem to be beckoning her closer. In the song, she wonders where this person has gone when they're not around and how long she'll have to stay in a world of illusion before they can be together.


The lyrics create a sense of longing and desire, as the singer is clearly drawn to this mysterious person even though she doesn't know much about them. She yearns for them to invite her closer and to open up to her, and she seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. There is a sense of vulnerability in the lyrics, as the singer puts herself out there and hopes for the best, even though she knows there are no guarantees.


Overall, "Invitation" is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the power of attraction and the longing for connection that we all experience at some point in our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

You and your smile
The singer is drawn to the person's smile


Hold a strange invitation
The singer is intrigued by the person and their energy


Somehow it seems
There is a sense of familiarity between the singer and person


We've shared our dreams
The singer and person have shared intimate thoughts and desires


But where?
The singer is unsure of the person's whereabouts or even if they exist


Time after time
The singer has encountered this feeling before


In a room full of strangers
The feeling of connection happens even in unfamiliar surroundings


Out of the blue
The feeling is sudden and unexpected


Suddenly you are there
The person appears as if by magic


Wherever I go
The feeling of connection follows the singer


You're the glow of temptation
The person is alluring and hard to resist


Glancing my way
The person catches the singer's eye


In the gray of the dawn
The person appears at a time of transition or uncertainty


And always your eyes
The person's eyes are a consistent presence in the singer's mind


Smile that strange invitation
The person's smile is an invitation to join them


When you are gone
The singer misses the person when they are not around


Where oh, where have you gone?
The singer longs for the person's presence


How long must I stay
The singer feels trapped in a state of uncertainty


In a world of illusion?
The singer questions the reality of their situation


Be where you are
The singer wants to be with the person


So near yet so far apart
The singer and person are close in proximity, but emotionally distant


Hoping you'll say
The singer is waiting for the person to make a move


With a warm invitation
The singer wants the person to invite them closer


Where have you been?
The singer is curious about the person's past experiences


Darling, come in into my heart
The singer wants to feel connected to the person on a deeper level




Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@lylecosmopolite

I am overcome with awe at how Ms Vaughn navigates this very difficult melody, by a classically trained composer. The arrangement does not make the singer's job easier.

@brucekuehn4031

Another great musical talent that fled the Nazis (in his case from Poland) and came to Hollywood - Bronislaw Kaper. Maybe best remembered today for On Green Dolphin Street.

@lylecosmopolite

@Bruce Kuehn Kaper just happens to be the composer of "Invitation".

@LM-mn7ll

Beautifully done. If you haven’t heard Rosemary Clooney’s version, give it a listen. She sings it exactly as Kaper wrote it, with the difficult high note other vocalists skip. Lushly orchestrated by Nelson Riddle, it is also a treat for the ears.

@poetcomic1

Love this song - it is SO easy to mess it up, over orchestrate and lose the mysterious sexy vibe that comes in right at the first bars.

@eleonorazichinolfi4571

today,nobody has a voice so wonderful

@fredprice2616

I just love her low tones.

@satyajitroychaudhury2593

Absolutely magnificent.

@tiinar.5873

Simply divine.

@melinagiocondadavis4149

this is the first video i have seen with no thumbs down. love you, sarah!

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