The Lyrics They Are 'A Changing: Lyrical Liberties In "Lover, Come Back To Me" And "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise"

Endnotes

¹ "Look What They've Done to my Song," Inside Edition, 10 June 2014, accessed on 24 May 2024.

² "A Foggy Day (in London Town)," Steyn Online, 30 March 2015, accessed on 24 May 2024.

³ Because today's audience is mostly unaware of the song's original context (at least in its specificity), I say little about it. But I note, first, that in addition to the operetta origin, this operetta's 1792 setting helps explain the rather old-fashioned sounding lyrics—old-fashioned even for 1928; and, secondly, in the operetta, a kind of diversity pertains to "Lover, Come Back to Me": first sung by the soprano heroine, Marianne, it is later reprised, with the same words, by baritone hero Robert Misson. "Softly," except for a few phrases, is sung only by the main tenor, Philippe, Robert's best friend. But this hasn't stopped female singers—even classical female singers—from singing it. (As the operetta singers who sing these songs have a cultured vocal production, I treat them as classical singers.)

Note: This article builds on a short article entitled "Atlantic Crossings—Romberg Song," which was first published by MusicWeb International.

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