The Way We Were
Willie Hutch Lyrics


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Memories light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?

Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember




The way we were
The way we were

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Willie Hutch's "The Way We Were" speak of memories and how they can evoke certain emotions in us as we reflect on the past. The opening line "Memories light the corners of my mind" describes how memories can come to us in unexpected ways and in unexpected moments, reminding us of people, places or events from our past. The fact that they are "misty water-colored" speaks to the haziness of these memories, as they are not crystal clear and detailed, but are more like impressions that we carry with us.


The lyrics also reference the idea of "Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind," which speaks to capturing moments of happiness that we shared with others. These are snapshots, both literal and metaphorical, of moments in time that were positive and special for those involved, and that serve as reminders of the connection and love we shared with those people.


The second verse asks the question of whether time has rewritten our memories and made them different than they actually were. It ponders the idea of if given the chance, would we go back and do things differently, or would we make the same choices. This line highlights the fact that we can never really go back and relive the past, but we can always reflect on it and learn from it.


The song then concludes with the idea that beauty and pain can exist within memories, and that we have the power to choose which ones we focus on. The final lines remind us that laughter is often the most important thing we remember when reflecting on our past, as it is a representation of the joy and happiness that we shared with others.


Line by Line Meaning

Memories light the corners of my mind
Recollections of the past unexpectedly come to mind


Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Faint, dreamlike memories of how things used to be


Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Images of the happy moments we shared


Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
We exchanged joyful expressions to show that we appreciated each other


Can it be that it was all so simple then
Is it possible that life was easier in the past


Or has time rewritten every line
Has time distorted our memories of what really happened


If we had the chance to do it all again
If we could go back in time and relive those moments


Tell me, would we?
Would we make the same choices if we had the opportunity to do things differently


Could we?
Do we have the ability to change our past actions


Memories may be beautiful and yet
Although memories can be pleasant


What's too painful to remember
Things that hurt too much to recall


We simply choose to forget
We consciously decide not to dwell on those difficult memories


So it's the laughter we will remember
We prefer to focus on the happy moments in our past


Whenever we remember
When we think about the past


The way we were
We recall fondly the person we used to be and the moments we shared with the people we love




Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Jesse


on Easy Does It

anyone know where i can find the lyrics or know them all. I've been confused about some of the words and background for too long.

Yvette Cookie Caston


on Theme Of The Mack

#Gas

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