Some Enchanted Evening Lyrics - The Castells

Song Facts:

• Genre: The genre identification of this song is usually pop ballad, with a great association to musical theater.


• Featured artists: Sung by The Castells, a vocal harmony pop group.


• Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II


• Composer: Richard Rodgers


• Awards: The song features in the musical "South Pacific," which won a whole array of Tony Awards, plus a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Annotations and Meaning

"Some Enchanted Evening" is a 1949 classic ballad composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein for their musical "South Pacific." The song has been notable because of its extensive, sweeping melody and romantic lyrics, which tell of deep-seated destiny and the idea of love at first sight.

Literal Interpretation:

The song commences by posing a philosophical question as to what love is, by answering that knowledge of what love is, as well as wisdom, may come from the acceptance of the inexplicable rather than trying to rationalize it. This opens the way for one of the most quasi-magical moments in the whole narrative as a singer describes meeting his true love unexpectedly across a crowded room.

Thematic Interpretation

Thematically, the song is about destiny and the ineffability of love. The "enchanted evening" will be considered enchanted because it is a moment that could be considered life-altering, such as finding a soulmate. The repetition of this scene—seeing one whom one could regard as a soul mate, across a crowded room, and instantly connecting to them in a very deep way—emphasizes a theme of fate when it comes to romantic encounters. A similar reinforcement of this is done through the counsel to "fly to her side and make her your own," wherein decisiveness and commitment to a mid-20th-century romance is underscored. This not only sets up love as an exhilarating feeling but also a vocation in which one responds with more commitment toward the story of destined love, which can define a lifetime.

Cultural Significance

"Some Enchanted Evening" is purely prototypical of romantic idealism that characterized mid-20th-century American cultural and musical theatre life. It has long since transcended its place and status as a standard, and many cherish its beauty and feeling through presentation not only on the stage but also in concert and on recordings by an array of artists. "Some Enchanted Evening" is a timeless classic that appeals to the audience based on the depiction of love as a mystical overpowering force that strikes unexpectedly and irrevocably. It's a sense of destiny, of mysterious love that carries forth, appealing to listeners, and making it be timeless in the American musical repertoire.