From the Musical, “JUBILEE,” 1935.
Words and Music by Cole Porter.
Copyright ©16 Oct 1935.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics:
When they begin the Beguine
It brings back the sound of music so tender,
It brings back the night of tropical splendor
It brings back a memory evergreen.
I’m with you once more under the stars
And down by the shore an orchestra’s playing,
And even the palms seem to be swaying
When they begin the Beguine.
To live it again is past all endeavor,
Except when that tune touches my heart,
And there we are, swearing to love forever,
And promising never, never to part.
What moments divine, what rapture serene,
Till clouds come along to disperse the joys we had tasted,
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted,
I know but too well what the mean;
So don’t let them begin the Beguine.
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember;
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the Beguine.
Oh yes, let them begin the Beguine, make the play
Till the starts that were there before return above you,
Till you whisper to me once more, “Darling, I love you!”
And we suddenly know what heaven we’re in,
When they begin the Beguine,
When they begin the Beguine.
Sung here by Fred Feild: