This Nearly Was Mine
Emile, feeling he has lost the love of his life, grieves for the love-filled life he might have known.
One dream in my heart,
One love to be living for,
One love to be living for—
This nearly was mine.
One girl for my dreams,
One partner in Paradise,
This promise of Paradise—
This nearly was mine.
Close to my heart she came,
Only to fly away,
Only to fly as day
Flies from moonlight!
Now, now I’m alone,
Still dreaming of Paradise,
Still saying that Paradise
Once nearly was mine.
So clear and deep are my fancies
Of things I wish were true,
I’ll keep remembering evenings
I wish I’d spent with you.
I’ll keep remembering kisses
From lips I’ll never own
And all the lovely adventures
That we have never known.
“This Nearly Was Mine” (Rodgers/Hammerstein II)
© 1949, Copyright Renewed, Williamson Music Company (ASCAP) c/o Concord Music Publishing.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.