Where or When
Steve Lawrence Lyrics


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It seems we stood and talked like this before.
We looked at each other in the same way then,
But I can't remember where or when.

The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore.
The smile you were smiling you were smiling then,
But I can't remember where or when.
Some things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again.

And so it seems that we have met before




And laughed before and loved before,
But who knows where or when?

Overall Meaning

Steve Lawrence's "Where or When" talks about the experience of two individuals meeting and feeling familiar with each other, but not being able to place where or when they met before. The lyrics convey a sense of déjà vu, where similar actions and emotions are being experienced again, but without a clear origin. The song's atmospheric, romantic feel, makes it a classic that has been covered by many other musicians over the years.


The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and reflection, as the two characters reminisce about the possibilities of their past connection. The line "Some things that happened for the first time seem to be happening again" could be interpreted as a reference to the idea that history repeats itself - either in terms of individual relationships, or in the broader sense of cultural patterns.


Line by Line Meaning

It seems we stood and talked like this before.
I feel as if we had this conversation before.


We looked at each other in the same way then,
We had the same look in our eyes at that time.


But I can't remember where or when.
I can't recollect the exact time and place of our previous encounter.


The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore.
You have the same outfit as last time we met.


The smile you were smiling you were smiling then,
The same genuine smile you had on your face previously.


But I can't remember where or when.
But I still don't recall where and when that was.


Some things that happened for the first time
Certain events that occurred initially


Seem to be happening again.
Appear to be recurring once more.


And so it seems that we have met before
It appears that we've already had an encounter.


And laughed before and loved before,
And we shared some joy and love in our past interaction.


But who knows where or when?
However, it's uncertain about when and where that was.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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