The Very Thought of You
Tony Bennett feat. Paul McCartney Lyrics

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The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love

You'll never know how slow the moments go
Till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love

Overall Meaning

The song "The Very Thought of You" is a love song that describes the power of love over every other aspect of life. The first verse reveals that the mere thought of this person makes the singer forget about everything else he should be doing, including everyday tasks. The second verse suggests that being away from this person makes the singer feel as though time is passing slowly. The singer vividly imagines the person's face in every flower and eyes in every star above. These details emphasize how all-consuming his love is, which fills his life with a sense of grandeur and delight, even if the rest of the world appears ordinary.

Furthermore, the song is a timeless classic that has been recorded by numerous artists from various genres over the years. Bennett and McCartney's rendition is particularly special as it brings together two iconic performers from different generations. The song was composed by Ray Noble in 1934 and remains one of the most popular love songs. The song has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including the popular TV series Frasier. The song's simple yet soulful melody captures the essence of love and longing, making it a perfect choice for romantic moments.

Line by Line Meaning

The very thought of you and I forget to do
Simply the thought of you makes me forget to do the little things I should be doing

The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
Daily tasks that are essential for everyone's responsibilities

I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm imagining a different reality to escape the present moment

I'm happy as a king
I'm as content as royalty

And foolish though it may seem
It may seem impractical or silly to others, but it’s how it feels to me

To me that's everything
It's essential to me, and I can't imagine life without it

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
Thinking of you is enough to create an irresistible urge to be with you

You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
Until I'm in your presence, time drags on painfully slow

I see your face in every flower
Your existence is so ingrained in my thoughts that every flower reminds me of you

Your eyes in stars above
The stars themselves appear to be made up of your eyes and their sparkle

It's just the thought of you
I’m completely consumed with thought of you alone