That's The Way It Goes
Vol. 16 - Peggy Lee Lyrics

In the song "That's the Way It Goes" by Peggy Lee, the lyrics highlight the unpredictability of love and how quickly it can take hold of someone's heart. The opening lines, "That's the way it goes, no one ever knows, just like that, it only took a minute, and I belong to you," suggest that love can come suddenly and unexpectedly, catching someone off guard and completely captivating them. The singer expresses their sense of surrender and belonging to their romantic partner in a swift and transformative moment.

As the lyrics progress, the idea of love's speed and mystery is further emphasized with lines like "You can never tell, that's how fast I fell, I just thought that there was nothing in it, but that is far from true." This illustrates how love can catch someone by surprise, despite their initial doubts or reservations. The singer acknowledges their initial disbelief or indifference towards love, only to realize that it was far deeper and more significant than they initially thought.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of being taken aback by the power of love, with lines such as "Now I thought that I was clever, you couldn't take me by surprise, but I found I'd be in love forever, the moment I looked in your eyes." Here, the singer reflects on their own misconceptions about love and their resistance to being influenced by it. However, upon meeting their partner and locking eyes, they are overcome with a profound feeling of love that defies logic and expectation.

In the final verse, the singer acknowledges the undeniable force of love with the lines, "That's the way it goes, no one ever knows, here's my heart and you deserve to win it, for that's the way it goes." Despite the unpredictability and mystery of love, the singer willingly offers their heart to their beloved, recognizing that love is a powerful force that deserves to be embraced and cherished. The lyrics convey a sense of surrender, acceptance, and celebration of the transformative nature of love, capturing the essence of how love can sweep someone off their feet in an instant.