Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (b… Read Full Bio ↴Remembered for his highly-commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born: Francisco De Asis Javier Cugat Mingall De Cru Y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin-American dance music. During his eight decade long career, Cugat helped to popularize the tango, the cha-cha, the mambo and the rhumba. His hits included "El Manicero" in the 1930s, "Perfida" in 1940 and the original recording of "Babalu" in 1944. Members of Cugat's band included Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdes, Tito Rodriguez, Luis Del Campo, Yma Sumac and his third (of four) wife, Abbe Lane. Cugat used the success of his musical career as a springboard for a movie career that included appearances in such films as Gay Madrid (1930), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Bathing Beauty (1945), Weekend At The Waldorf (1945), Holiday In Mexico (1946), On An Island With You (1948), A Date With Judy (1948), Chicago Syndicate (1955) and Desire Diabolique (1959). A native of Genoa, Spain, Cugat emigrated with his family to Cuba in 1905. Trained as a classical violinist, he played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana at the age of twelve. Emigrating to the United States, sometime between 1915 and 1918, he quickly found work accompanying an opera singer. At the height of the tango craze, in 1918, Cugat joined a popular dance band, The Gigolos. His involvement with the group, however, was brief. As the popularity of the tango faded, he took a job as a cartoonist for The Los Angeles Times. Cugat returned to music in 1920, forming his own group, The Latin American Band. Although they played regularly at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and supplied the soundtracks for several musical shorts, the group had its greatest success after moving to New York and became the houseband for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Despite being criticized for their middle-of-the-road approach, Cugat remained committed to his commercial-minded sound. He later explained, "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve". Cugat and his orchestra remained at the hotel for sixteen years. Beautiful women were consistently featured in Cugat's band. After helping Rita Hayworth to launch her career, he appeared in her film, You Were Never Lovelier. Cugat's recordings of the 1950s featured the singing of his third wife, Abbe Lane. In the mid-1960s, he featured his fourth wife, Charo, who he billed as a "folksinger". Upon his retirement in 1970, Cugat returned to Spain. He died in Barcelona on October 27, 1990. His band, which was led by Tito Puente following his retirement, continues to perform under the direction of dancer, musician and vocalist Ada Cavallo.

Old-Fashioned
Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra Lyrics

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I am not such a clever one
About the latest fads
I admit I was never one
Adored by local lads
Not that I ever try to be a saint
I'm the type that they classify as quaint
I'm old fashioned
I love the moonlight

I love the old fashioned things
The sound of rain
Upon a window pane
The starry song that April sings
This year's fancies
Are passing fancies
But sighing sighs holding hands
These my heart understands
I know I'm old fashioned
But I don't mind it
That's how I want to be
As long as you agree
To stay old fashioned with me

I'm old fashioned
But I don't mind it
That's how I want to be
As long as you agree
To stay old fashioned with me

Oh won't you stay old fashioned with me
Oh please stay old fashioned with me

Overall Meaning

The song "Old Fashioned" by Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra is a love song that celebrates an appreciation for the traditional and timeless things in life. The lyrics speak of the singer's love of things like moonlight, rain on a window pane, and the song of the stars in April. The singer admits to being "not such a clever one" when it comes to the latest fads, but rather someone who is "old fashioned." The use of the term "quaint" to describe the singer shows a certain self-awareness and acceptance of their anachronistic tendencies.

The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm old fashioned, but I don't mind it, that's how I want to be" as a statement of self-assurance and confidence in their own tastes and preferences. The final lines of the song are an invitation to the beloved to join them in their love of the old-fashioned, asking them to "stay old fashioned with me." The song's simple melody and straightforward lyrics convey a sense of sincerity and honesty that is often lacking in more complicated love songs.

Line by Line Meaning

I am not such a clever one
I am not the most intelligent person

About the latest fads
I don't really follow or understand current trends

I admit I was never one
I confess that I never was one

Adored by local lads
Loved by the boys in my area

Not that I ever try to be a saint
I never attempt to be a perfect person

I'm the type that they classify as quaint
People consider me to be old-fashioned

I love the moonlight
I adore the light of the moon

I love the old fashioned things
I have an appreciation for vintage things

The sound of rain
The noise of rainfall

Upon a window pane
Falling on a window glass

The starry song that April sings
The melody of the stars in April

This year's fancies
Current trends or infatuations

Are passing fancies
Are temporary and don't last

But sighing sighs holding hands
What I cherish more is holding hands and exchanging heartfelt sighs

These my heart understands
My heart comprehends and appreciates these gestures more

I know I'm old fashioned
I am aware that I seem outdated

But I don't mind it
However, I do not have a problem with it

That's how I want to be
That is my preference

As long as you agree
Provided that you also approve

To stay old fashioned with me
To remain nostalgic and sentimental with me

Oh won't you stay old fashioned with me
Please continue to have a love of old-fashioned things with me

Oh please stay old fashioned with me
I would be grateful if you maintained a love for vintage things with me

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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