Sweet Memories
Vince Gill & Paul Franklin Lyrics


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My world is like a river
As dark as it is deep
Night after night, the past slips in
Gathers all my sleep
My days are just an endless stream of emptiness for me
Filled only by the fleeting moments of her memories

Sweet memories
Those sweet memories
I'm clinging to her memories

She slipped into the silence of my dreams last night
Wandering from room to room turning on each light
Her laughter spills like water from the river to the sea
I'm swept away from sadness clinging to her memories

Sweet memories
Those sweet memories
I'm clinging to her memories

Sweet memories
Those sweet memories




I'm clinging to her memories
I'm clinging to her memories

Overall Meaning

In the song "Sweet Memories" by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin, the lyrics paint a poignant picture of a narrator who is haunted by memories of a lost love. The opening lines, "My world is like a river, as dark as it is deep," set a melancholic tone, suggesting that the singer's emotions run deep and are shrouded in darkness. The river metaphor symbolizes the constant flow of memories and emotions that the singer is unable to escape from.


The lyrics describe how the past continually infiltrates the singer's present, disrupting his sleep and filling his days with a sense of emptiness. The fleeting moments of his lost love's memories are the only source of solace in an otherwise bleak existence. This highlights the powerful hold that memories can have on our emotions, even when the person is no longer physically present.


The imagery of the lost love slipping into the singer's dreams and wandering through his thoughts is vivid and evocative. Her presence is vividly felt through her laughter, which is likened to water flowing from the river to the sea. This image conveys a sense of emotional flow and movement, as if the memories of the lost love are a force of nature that cannot be contained.


The repetition of the refrain "Sweet memories, those sweet memories, I'm clinging to her memories" throughout the song underscores the singer's deep emotional attachment to the past. Despite the sadness and longing that these memories evoke, he finds comfort and solace in holding on to them. The repetition also emphasizes the cyclical nature of memories and how they continue to shape and influence our emotions long after the events themselves have passed. In essence, the song beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of memories and the enduring impact they can have on our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

My world is like a river
The depth and darkness of my emotions are similar to a river.


As dark as it is deep
My feelings are as intense as they are hard to understand.


Night after night, the past slips in
Every night, memories from the past come flooding back.


Gathers all my sleep
These memories keep me awake at night.


My days are just an endless stream of emptiness for me
My days feel empty and meaningless without her.


Filled only by the fleeting moments of her memories
The only moments of joy in my days are the memories I have of her.


She slipped into the silence of my dreams last night
Last night, she appeared in my dreams quietly.


Wandering from room to room turning on each light
In my dreams, she wandered around turning on lights in every room.


Her laughter spills like water from the river to the sea
Her laughter is like a flowing river, moving effortlessly from one place to another.


I'm swept away from sadness clinging to her memories
My sadness is temporarily forgotten as I hold on to memories of her.


Sweet memories
These memories are sweet and cherished.


Those sweet memories
These are the memories that bring me comfort.


I'm clinging to her memories
I am holding on tightly to these memories of her.


I'm clinging to her memories
I am holding on tightly to these memories of her.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mickey Newbury

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@brendavanzanden8716

Dawn Sears must be proud to hear Vince and Paul sing/play this song. I love it

@CorrinaVince

❤❤

@martha.englishinegillhoust5057

Love this ❤ song martha english

@RationalYouth

My God, that is so beautiful.

@mosrite60

Bakersfield and Sweet Memories. Certainly two of the greatest albums ever recorded. Hard to beat Vince and Paul. Decades above everyone else as country music goes.

@user-kv3zi8bo5o

How wonderful to hear Vince @ Paul to sing and play this beautiful song recently always sang by the late Dawn Sears .Who was such an amazing singer. Vince and Paul you are both magical singing this particular song. It sounds ABSOLUTELY amazing .Thank you BOTH always , as its a difficult song to sing, but you both nailed it on this your recording of this beautiful song. KINDEST REGARDS ❤❤❤❤ ELIZABETH❤❤ PERTH❤❤❤ SCOTLAND ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@johnduravetz2603

Thanks for expressing such feelings..... its the actual restoration of the style and thoughts behind so many previous country and soul singers....much appreciated

@egbertmeijers3651

A wonderful rendition of a Mickey Newbury original. Very well done by Vince and Paul.

@mikewatts6813

This song belongs to Dawn Sears - no one can ever top her version.

@janethardy3208

Vince Gill has the voice of an Angel. ❤️❤️❤️

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