Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
norman percival and his orchestra Lyrics
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Where I stood I thought I knew
Or should
True or false, life wasn't ever any waltz
Then it caught the somersaults
For good
Might have known it would
The world steps on my little toes.
Ev'ry time I take a little chance
I pay right through my little nose.
Ev'ry time I fly my little kite
It catches on a tree.
Ev'ry time I throw an anchor out
It pulls me in the sea.
Ev'ry time I feel a little glow
I always get a little shock.
Ev'ry time I stick my little chin out
I always get a little knock,
And when I aim my arrows at the sun
They always miss their mark
Leaving just a lonely little lady
In the dark
The lyrics to Norman Percival and His Orchestra's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" speak to the ups and downs of life and relationships. The first stanza explores the uncertainty of knowing where one stands in life - whether things are true or false, and how sudden changes can turn one's world upside down. The second stanza uses metaphors to express the idea that every time the songwriter tries to embrace life and take risks, the world seems to push back - like when dancing with a partner who steps on one's toes, or trying to fly a kite that gets caught in a tree. The final lines paint a picture of a lonely person in the dark, having missed the mark with their efforts to connect with others.
Overall, the song seems to express a sense of defeat or resignation in the face of life's challenges. No matter how much one tries, things don't seem to work out as planned. The choice of metaphors - dancing, flying a kite, throwing an anchor - create a vivid sense of action and movement, but with a persistent sense of failure or misfortune.
Line by Line Meaning
False or true, I wish I had a clue or two
I am uncertain about the situation and wish I knew more information to make a confident decision.
Where I stood I thought I knew
I believed I had a clear understanding of the situation.
Or should
But perhaps my understanding was wrong.
True or false, life wasn't ever any waltz
Life has not always been easy, despite what I previously believed to be true.
Then it caught the somersaults
Life has thrown unexpected challenges that have made it difficult to maintain balance.
For good
These challenges have been permanent and unchangeable.
Might have known it would
Upon reflection, it seems like perhaps these challenges should have been expected.
Ev'ry Time my heart begins to dance
Whenever I begin to feel happy or optimistic,
The world steps on my little toes.
something happens to ruin my mood or progress.
Ev'ry time I take a little chance
Whenever I try to take a risk and put myself out there,
I pay right through my little nose.
I end up suffering the consequences or feeling like a fool.
Ev'ry time I fly my little kite
Whenever I pursue a small dream or goal,
It catches on a tree.
It gets caught or obstructed before I can achieve it.
Ev'ry time I throw an anchor out
Whenever I try to ground or stabilize myself,
It pulls me in the sea.
I end up being dragged into a situation or environment that is overwhelming.
Ev'ry time I feel a little glow
Whenever I feel a spark of inspiration or hope,
I always get a little shock.
Something always interrupts my positive feelings or progress.
Ev'ry time I stick my little chin out
Whenever I try to be bold or assertive,
I always get a little knock,
I always face some kind of setback or criticism.
And when I aim my arrows at the sun
Whenever I set ambitious goals or aspirations,
They always miss their mark
I never quite achieve what I set out to do.
Leaving just a lonely little lady
Resulting in a feeling of loneliness and isolation for myself,
In the dark
as if I am lost and unable to find my way.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind