Remember
Ella Fitzgerald's Melancholic Memory: Love, Regret, and Forgotten Promises
Lyrics
One little kiss, a moment of bliss, then hours of deep regret
Reflecting on a brief moment of happiness (a kiss) followed by prolonged feelings of sorrow and remorse.
One little smile, and after a while, a longing to forget
Describing how a smile leads to a yearning to move on and forget the past.
One little heartache left as a token
A heartache remains as a memento or reminder of the past experience.
One little plaything carelessly broken
Highlighting a broken relationship or commitment treated casually like a plaything.
Remember the night
Recalling a specific night, setting the stage for the reminiscence of love.
The night you said, "I love you"
Referencing the declaration of love during the mentioned night.
Remember?
Prompting the listener to recall the events being described.
Remember you vowed
Reminding of vows made, invoking celestial imagery for emphasis.
By all the stars above you
Referring to promises made under the stars.
Remember?
Reiterating the act of remembering and its importance.
Remember we found a lonely spot
Recalling a specific memory of finding a secluded place with someone special.
And after I learned to care a lot
After developing feelings, expressing the care invested in the relationship.
You promised that you'd forget me not
Promised commitment to be unforgettable.
But you forgot
Contrast between the promise made and the subsequent act of forgetting.
To remember
Emphasizing the irony of forgetting to remember.
Into my dreams you wandered it seems, and then there came a day
Transitioning to a different phase where dreams of love come true.
You loved me too, my dreams had come true, and all the world was
Highlighting the reciprocation of love and the euphoria it brings.
May
Indicating a time of joy and prosperity (May).
But soon the may time turned to December
Shifting from the warmth of May to the coldness of December, symbolizing a change in the relationship.
You had forgotten, do you remember?
Revealing the forgetfulness of the significant other and questioning if they remember the past.
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