When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of music so tender It brings back a 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 clutches my heart And there we are, swearing to love forever And promising never, never to part What moments divine, what rapture serene Till clouds came 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 they 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, only remember When they begin the beguine Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play Till the stars that were there before return above you Till you whisper me once more, "Darling, I love you" Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in When they begin the beguine, the beguine, the beguine When they begin the beguine, the beguine, the beguine When they begin the beguine