My Old Flame
The Charlie Parker Quintet Lyrics


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My old flame, I can't even think of his name but it's funny now and then
How my thoughts go flashing back again to my old flame
My old flame, my new lovers all seem so tame
For I haven't met a gent so magnificent or elegant as my old flame

I've met so many who had fascinating ways
A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame
I can't even think of his name but I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became of my old flame

I've met so many who had fascinating way
A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame




I can't even think of his name but I'll never be the same
Until I discover what became of my old flame

Overall Meaning

The song "My Old Flame" by The Charlie Parker Quintet is a melancholic jazz standard that explores the memories and feelings of a lost love. The main theme is reflected in the first verse, where the singer confesses that he cannot even remember his old flame's name, and yet his thoughts keep going back to him from time to time. The second verse delves deeper into the singer's emotional state, as he compares all his new lovers to his old flame, only to find them not as magnificent or elegant as the one he lost.


The repetition of the phrase "fascinating ways, fascinating gaze" in both verses adds to the song's sense of longing and regret. It seems as if the singer is constantly looking for something that he knows he will never find again. He is haunted by the memory of his old flame, even though he cannot recall his name. The final line of the song, "until I discover what became of my old flame," suggests that the singer is searching for closure or an explanation for the loss. However, it is left open-ended whether he eventually finds it or not.


Overall, "My Old Flame" is a poignant piece of music that captures the bittersweet emotions of lost love. The lyrics and melody are perfectly complemented by Parker's saxophone playing and the quintet's improvisational style, making it a classic jazz standard that continues to resonate with audiences to this day.


Line by Line Meaning

My old flame, I can't even think of his name but it's funny now and then
Although I can't remember his name, I find it amusing how memories of my past love come back to me from time to time.


How my thoughts go flashing back again to my old flame
I often find myself reminiscing about my past love, and my mind wanders back to those memories.


My old flame, my new lovers all seem so tame
I find my current lovers to be quite ordinary when compared to the passion and excitement I once shared with my old love.


For I haven't met a gent so magnificent or elegant as my old flame
No one else has matched the sophistication and refinement that my old love possessed.


I've met so many who had fascinating ways
I've come across many fascinating people with unique qualities and characteristics.


A fascinating gaze in their eyes, some who took me up to the skies
Some of these people had captivating looks and charm that made me feel on top of the world.


But their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame
However, their efforts to love me could only be seen as a cheap copy of the genuine love I had experienced in the past.


I can't even think of his name but I'll never be the same
Although I can't recall his name, the impact that my old love had on me will always stay with me and influence the way I experience love.


Until I discover what became of my old flame
I am curious about what happened to my old love and how his life turned out since we parted ways.




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