As Time Goes By

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of enduring human connection against the backdrop of passing time. They establish a core idea: certain fundamental experiences remain constant, regardless of external changes. The opening lines, "A kiss is still a kiss / A sigh is just a sigh," immediately ground the listener in tangible, recognizable actions that transcend eras. This sets up the central thesis that despite the passage of years, the essential nature of love and human interaction persists. The dominant emotional tension arises from the contrast between the inevitable march of time and the unchanging, primal needs and expressions of love. The narrator asserts that "Moonlight and love songs never out of date," while simultaneously acknowledging the volatile mix of "passion, jealousy and hate" that accompanies these feelings. This duality suggests that while the outward forms of expression might evolve, the intense, often contradictory, emotions at the heart of human relationships are timeless. The most striking craft element is the insistent repetition of the phrase "As time goes by." This refrain acts as a constant reminder of the relentless flow of moments, anchoring the seemingly immutable aspects of love within this temporal context. The lyrics also employ a straightforward, almost declarative tone, presenting assertions like "Woman needs man and man must have his mate" as undeniable truths. This directness lends a sense of gravitas and universality to the observations. What makes these lyrics so effective is their ability to evoke a sense of comforting familiarity and profound truth. By focusing on simple, universally understood actions and emotions, the song suggests a deep, underlying order to human experience. The repeated assertion that "The fundamental things apply" offers a sense of stability in a world that is always changing, making the enduring nature of love feel like a reliable constant.