ESL Listening

resources for English language teachers & learners

It Never Entered My Mind
Rodgers and Hart (1940)

This is one Lorenz Hart' last lyrics. It's also one of his most beautiful.

'It never entered my/his/her mind' means, 'This is a complete surprise'.

Once I laughed when I heard you saying
That I'd be playing solitaire
Uneasy in my easy-chair
It never entered my mind.

And once you told me I was mistaken
That I'd awaken with the sun
And order orange juice for one.
It never entered my mind.

You had what I lack, myself
Now I even have to
scratch my back myself.

How much do you understand? Try this
quiz:

easy-chair: comfortable chair to relax in.
solitaire: a card game for one person
scratch: rub with finger nails
uneasy: anxious, nervous

It Never Entered My Mind is a 'torch song'. In torch song a woman sings of lost love. But
Frank Sinatra also does a great version from a man's point of view.


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