Kathleen
The Newman Lyrics
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Down by the river where no one goes
We could be married there in the countryard
By this old Spanish priest that no one knows
And he'll say
"Nel blu dipinto
Dipinto di blu
Di stare lassu"
That means you love him
And he loves you
"Piu bel ci sono
Ci sei tu"
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
The best one in the world
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey,
Come what may
Her, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna take you away, away
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
I've searched through all the world
I dream of you, Kathleen
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
The Newman's song "Kathleen" tells the story of someone who is deeply in love with a girl named Kathleen. The song begins by describing a courtyard in Chicago, near a river, which is hidden away and rarely visited. The singer suggests that they get married in this secluded spot, by a mysterious old Spanish priest that no one knows. The priest sings the words "Nel blu dipinto, dipinto di blu, Felice de stare, Di stare lassu," which translates to "In the blue painted, painted blue. Happy to be up there, up there." He then says "That means you love him, and he loves you. More beautiful than there is, there is you." This could be interpreted as a message of reassurance and approval for the couple's love.
The chorus of the song repeats the name Kathleen three times, emphasizing the importance of this person to the singer. He asserts that Kathleen is the best in the world and that he has always been crazy about Irish girls. The song ends with the singer declaring his love for Kathleen and his desire to take her away, no matter what obstacles they may face. Overall, "Kathleen" is a sweet and romantic song about the power of love and the desire to find one's soulmate, even if it means traveling far and wide to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a countryard here in Chicago
There's a space behind the buildings in the city that's quiet and unused.
Down by the river where no one goes
This courtyard is located near the water and isn't frequently visited by people.
We could be married there in the courtyard
We could have a small, private wedding ceremony in this quiet space.
By this old Spanish priest that no one knows
There's a mysterious religious figure nearby who could perform the service for us.
And he'll say
During the ceremony, he'll recite a special phrase.
"Nel blu dipinto
Dipinto di blu
Felice de stare
Di stare lassu"
In Italian, this phrase describes a feeling of joy and contentment about being in a blue, heavenly place.
That means you love him
The phrase is interpreted as a declaration of love.
And he loves you
The response to the declaration of love is an affirmation of mutual affection.
"Piu bel ci sono
Ci sei tu"
This phrase means that the only thing more beautiful than this heavenly place is the presence of the person being spoken to.
Kathleen Kathleen Kathleen
The person singing is addressing someone named Kathleen.
The best one in the world
The person singing believes that Kathleen is the best person in the world.
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
The person singing has always been particularly attracted to women from Ireland.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The person singing is using this phrase as an exclamation.
Hey, hey,
The person singing is trying to get someone's attention.
Come what may
No matter what happens, the person singing is committed to their plan.
Her, hey, hey, hey
The person singing is singing to Kathleen.
I'm gonna take you away, away
The person singing is planning to whisk Kathleen away somewhere else.
I've searched through all the world
The person singing has looked for love in many places.
I dream of you, Kathleen
The person singing has been thinking about Kathleen a lot and has feelings for her.
I've always been crazy about Irish girls
The person singing has always been attracted to women from Ireland.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind