Some Enchanted Evening

By Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
1949

One of the most recognized of all Rodgers & Hammerstein compositions, it was introduced in the classic musical South Pacific by Italian operatic bass Ezio Pinza, who became a mainstream American favorite because of it. Hammerstein's lyric expresses a carpe diem attitude through a series of action verbs, and Rodgers melody is gorgeous as usual. A touch on the schmaltzy side, but then again, that's Rodgers & Hammerstein, after all.

Lyrics:

Some enchanted evening
You may see a stranger,
you may see a stranger
Across a crowded room
And somehow you know,
You know even then
That somewhere you'll see her
Again and again.

Some enchanted evening
Someone may be laughin',
You may hear her laughin'
Across a crowded room
And night after night,
As strange as it seems
The sound of her laughter
Will sing in your dreams.

Who can explain it?
Who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons,
Wise men never try.

Some enchanted evening
When you find your true love,
When you feel her call you
Across a crowded room,
Then fly to her side,
And make her your own
Or all through your life you
May dream all alone.

Once you have found her,
Never let her go.
Once you have found her,
Never let her go!

Recorded By:

Perry Como
Frank Sinatra
Jo Stafford
Bing Crosby
Al Jolson