Taco was born to a Dutch couple in Jakarta (On a side note, Indonesia was once a Dutch colony). Prior to his worldwide hit with Puttin' on the Ritz, he fronted a Berlin-based band called Taco's Bizz. Their niche was performing Depression-era oldies in a more contemporary style, and soon Taco was courted by record labels to release a solo single. Puttin' on the Ritz gained so much attention that an entire album was funded by RCA Records. Both the album and the single were hits in Europe, and thanks to a popular MTV video for Puttin' on the Ritz, the single and the album became hits in America as well, selling over 500,000 copies of Taco's 1982 debut album After Eight.
A follow-up album, Let's Face The Music, was recorded in 1984 for RCA, but it failed to recreate Taco's initial success, and he vanished from the American market immediately thereafter. Taco continued to record, however, focusing mostly on the German market with albums Swing Classics/In The Mood Of Glenn Miller in 1985 and Tell Me That You Like It in 1986 for Polydor. In 1987 he recorded the self-titled album Taco. In 1989 he briefly flirted with contemporary dance music by releasing a pair of singles, Love Touch and Got To Be Your Lover, that were blatantly styled after the high energy disco sound popularized by Stock Aitken Waterman. Afterwards he repositioned himself as a swing/soul singer. He has collaborated with Geff Harrison of Kin Ping Meh fame.
He currently resides in Germany, occasionally performing in Berlin and recording.
He has been referenced on the TV show The Simpsons. Episode BABF19, "Behind the Laughter", features Willie Nelson saying, "Thank you, Taco, for that loving tribute to Falco", as well as the end of the tribute itself. Recently, Taco was referenced in an episode of The Venture Bros. in describing Klaus Nomi's tuxedo attire.
They Can't Take That Away from Me
Taco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way you sip your tea
The memory of that
Oh, no they can't take that away from me
The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off-key
The way you haunt my dreams
We may never ever meet again
On that bumpy road to love
Still I'll always keep the memory
Memory of
The way you hold your knife
The way we dance till three
The way you've changed my life
Oh, no they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me
We may never ever meet again
On that bumpy road to love
Still I'll always, always
Keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife
The way we dance till three
The way you changed my life
Oh, no they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away
No, they can't take that away
No, they can't take that away from me.
The lyrics to Taco's song They Can't Take That Away From Me speak to the lasting impact that a person or experience can have on someone's life. The opening lines of the song, "The way you wear your hat, the way you sip your tea," describe specific details about someone that have stuck with the singer even though they may not see the person again. The memories of these small and seemingly insignificant details bring the singer comfort and a sense of nostalgia. They are things that no one can take away from them, as they have become a part of who they are and how they perceive the world.
Similarly, the lyric "The way you hold your knife, the way we dance till three" references more specific memories shared between the singer and the person they address in the song. These personal experiences and moments of connection are what make life meaningful and memorable, even if they are fleeting. The song acknowledges that these moments may not last forever, but the memories and feelings associated with them will continue to shape the singer's life and outlook.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the power of human connection and the lasting impact that people can have on each other's lives. It is a celebration of memories and experiences that have shaped us, and a recognition that they will always be a part of who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
The way you wear your hat
The unique way you wear your hat is a special and memorable part of you that no one can take away.
The way you sip your tea
The distinctive way you sip your tea is a charming aspect of your personality that cannot be taken away by anyone.
The memory of that
The memory of the way you wear your hat and sip your tea is something that cannot be erased or removed by anyone.
Oh, no they can't take that away from me
Despite any efforts to do so, no one can take away these unique and precious memories and qualities that make you who you are.
The way your smile just beams
Your radiant smile is a characteristic that is unforgettable and cannot be taken away by anyone.
The way you sing off-key
Even the imperfections in the way you sing are part of what makes you special and are things that cannot be taken away.
The way you haunt my dreams
The way you fill my dreams and thoughts is a treasured part of who you are that is irreplaceable and cannot be taken away.
We may never ever meet again
It is possible that we may not see each other in the future.
On that bumpy road to love
Despite the challenges and obstacles in our journey towards love.
Still I'll always keep the memory
I will always cherish our time together and commit it to memory.
The way you hold your knife
The way you hold your knife is a small, distinct detail about you that no one else possesses and cannot be taken away.
The way we dance till three
The way we dance together into the early hours of the morning is a special experience that cannot be replicated or taken away.
The way you've changed my life
Your influence and impact on my life is significant and cannot be undone or erased by anyone.
No, they can't take that away from me
Despite any attempts to do so, these treasured memories and qualities are mine to keep forever.
Writer(s): Gershwin George, Gershwin Ira
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.