Stranger in Paradise
Tony Bennett;Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra Lyrics

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Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise
All lost in a wonderland
A stranger in paradise
If I stand starry-eyed
That's a danger in paradise
For mortals who stand beside an angel like

I saw your face and I ascended

Out of the commonplace into the rare
Somewhere in space I hang suspended
Until I know there's a chance that you care

Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise?
Don't send me in dark despair
From all that I hunger for

But open your angel's arms
To the stranger in paradise

And tell him that we need be
Our stranger no more

Overall Meaning

In the song "Stranger in Paradise," the lyrics express the feeling of being in a surreal, otherworldly place with someone who seems too good to be true. The lyrics begin with "Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise, all lost in a wonderland, a stranger in paradise." This is the moment when the two people first meet, and the singer feels as if he has entered into an enchanted world where everything is perfect. However, this feeling of blissful wonder is also tinged with a sense of danger. As the lyrics state, "If I stand starry-eyed, that's a danger in paradise, for mortals who stand beside an angel like you." The singer knows that this perfect moment cannot last forever and that he risks losing it all by getting too caught up in the beauty of this otherworldly place.

As the song continues, the singer's feelings become more intense. He confesses that he has been "suspended" somewhere in space ever since he laid eyes on this person. He pleads with them to not send him into "dark despair" by rejecting him, and he begs them to open their "angel's arms" to him. By the end of the song, the singer is no longer a stranger in paradise but someone who has been accepted and is loved.

Line by Line Meaning

Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise
Please allow me to guide you as I myself am lost in this unknown, beautiful realm

All lost in a wonderland
I am completely captivated by the magic of this unfamiliar place

A stranger in paradise
I am an outsider in this heavenly haven

If I stand starry-eyed
Gazing with wonderment may lead to unforeseen consequences

That's a danger in paradise
Being overwhelmed by paradise may lead to negative outcomes

For mortals who stand beside an angel like
Humans standing next to divine beings may be in peril

I saw your face and I ascended
The sight of you has elevated my being

Out of the commonplace into the rare
You have taken me from the mundane to something extraordinary

Somewhere in space I hang suspended
I feel weightless and adrift in the cosmos, waiting for a sign from you

Until I know there's a chance that you care
I will remain suspended in anticipation, hoping for even the slightest indication of your affection

Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Please respond to my passionate plea