Composer

:

Henry Mancini

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Film Theme

Compose Date

:

1962

Average_duration

:

3:24

"Days of Wine and Roses" is a popular song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was written for the 1962 movie of the same name, which starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The film tells the story of a couple who fall in love and become alcoholics, struggling to overcome their addiction. The song was first performed by Andy Williams and was released as a single in 1963. It became a hit, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has since been covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Chet Baker. The composition is in the key of C major and has a slow, melancholic feel. The melody is simple and memorable, with a descending line in the chorus that emphasizes the sadness of the lyrics. The song is typically performed with a small jazz ensemble, featuring piano, bass, drums, and a solo instrument such as trumpet or saxophone. The lyrics of "Days of Wine and Roses" describe the destructive nature of alcoholism and the toll it takes on a relationship. The opening lines set the tone: "The days of wine and roses / Laugh and run away / Like a child at play / Through a meadowland toward a closing door." The imagery of the child at play and the closing door suggest the fleeting nature of happiness and the inevitability of loss. The song is divided into two verses and a chorus, with a brief instrumental interlude between the second verse and the chorus. The first verse describes the couple's initial attraction and the joy they find in drinking together: "We'll enjoy the days of wine and roses / With love that's sincere and true / Forgetting all our troubles / We'll be on our way." The second verse depicts the couple's descent into addiction and the toll it takes on their relationship: "Then the night will fall / And the darkness will come / And the tears will flow / As the wine is poured." The chorus repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the inevitability of loss and the transience of happiness. Overall, "Days of Wine and Roses" is a poignant and powerful song that captures the emotional complexity of addiction and its impact on relationships. Mancini's simple yet evocative melody and Mercer's poignant lyrics have made it a classic of the American songbook.

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