what does "Sweet and Low" mean? (From "Music Man" movie)
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 12:55 am
I simply adore the film adaptations of the Golden Era Broadway musicals. One of the latest songs I loved was from the musical "The Music Man",
sung by Shirley Jones and the Buffalo Bills, called "Lida Rose/Will I ever tell you"
Here are the lyrics from the second part of the song:
"Sweet and low
Sweet and low
How sweet that mem'ry
How long ago
Forever
Oh yes, forever
Will I ever tell you?
Oh no"
Now, I'm confused by the combination of "sweet and low", it doesn't seem to make any sense. I know there's a poem by Tennyson of the same name, but it doesn't help me. This expression does seem to be used occasionally in other lyrics as well.
Could someone knowledgeable enlighten me? Does "low" here means something like "quiet"?
sung by Shirley Jones and the Buffalo Bills, called "Lida Rose/Will I ever tell you"
Here are the lyrics from the second part of the song:
"Sweet and low
Sweet and low
How sweet that mem'ry
How long ago
Forever
Oh yes, forever
Will I ever tell you?
Oh no"
Now, I'm confused by the combination of "sweet and low", it doesn't seem to make any sense. I know there's a poem by Tennyson of the same name, but it doesn't help me. This expression does seem to be used occasionally in other lyrics as well.
Could someone knowledgeable enlighten me? Does "low" here means something like "quiet"?