Memory

Barry Manilow's 'Memory' is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, loss, and the hope for renewal. The song opens with a vivid nighttime scene, where the silence of the pavement and the moon's solitary smile set a melancholic tone. The imagery of withered leaves and the moaning wind evokes a sense of decay and the passage of time, suggesting that the singer is reflecting on a past that feels distant and irretrievable.

The chorus delves deeper into this theme of memory, as the singer reminisces about the 'old days' when happiness was tangible and life seemed beautiful. This longing for the past is a universal emotion, and Manilow captures it with a sense of both sorrow and warmth. The repetition of the word 'memory' underscores its significance, as if the singer is trying to hold onto these fleeting moments of joy.

As the song progresses, there is a shift from night to day, symbolizing the transition from past to future. The singer acknowledges the need to move forward, to 'think of a new life' and not succumb to despair. The imagery of 'burnt out ends of smokey days' and the 'stale cold smell of morning' conveys the weariness of the present, but also the inevitability of a new beginning. The plea to be touched and understood in the final verse highlights the human desire for connection and the hope that, through understanding and empathy, one can find happiness again. The song concludes on a hopeful note, with the recognition that 'a new day has begun,' suggesting that renewal and happiness are always within reach, even after the darkest nights.