According to Wikipedia: "It is a song about nostalgia from the 1960 musical comedy The Fantasticks, It is the first song performed in the show, encouraging the audience to imagine what the sparse set suggests".
I have not watched that musical but anything musical would normally tickle my fancy. Some popular ones are: Sound of Music, Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera, La La Land, The Greatest Showman, A Star is Born, Aladin, Burlesque, Across the Universe...the list can go on.
When listening to this song, I was often washed away by two sensations: the sweet soft melody that is soothing to my ear and the juicy tenderness that brings warmth to my heart. The lyrics paint not only vivid images, but also play a slow-motion movie in my head: where I watch myself being the main character, living my life from my childhood to adulthood, into the later years in life...when the song started echoing in the background with these heartwarming words.....
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow..."
When the movie is coming to an end, this quote came into full view:
"And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count; it is the life in your years" Abraham Lincoln.
There are many versions of this song, including, Julie Andrew, The Brothers Four, Josh Groban. I attached a version by Andy Williams.
Attached is my monthly article with the same title I wrote last November.
Painting: Wendy Liu
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