About the Song
Released in 1973, “The Way We Were” was the title track for the eponymous film starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Composed by the renowned songwriting duo of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, the song perfectly encapsulates the film’s themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
Como’s interpretation of “The Way We Were” is nothing short of masterful. His voice, imbued with a warmth and sincerity that only age and experience can bestow, effortlessly carries the song’s poignant lyrics. Each note resonates with a depth of emotion, transporting listeners back to a time of simpler joys and heartfelt connections.
The song’s opening lines, “Memories like the corners of my mind / Misty, water-colored memories of the way we were,” paint a vivid picture of cherished moments fading into the past. Como’s gentle delivery imbues these words with a profound sense of longing, as if each note were a bittersweet reminder of what once was.
As the song progresses, Como’s voice builds with a quiet intensity, reflecting the bittersweet nature of reminiscence. He croons of “scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind / Smiles we never thought we’d lose,” capturing the bittersweet beauty of fleeting moments etched in time.
The chorus, with its poignant refrain of “The way we were,” serves as the song’s emotional anchor. Como’s voice soars with a touch of melancholy, expressing a deep yearning for the simpler, more idealistic days of the past.
“The Way We Were” is a timeless classic that has resonated with listeners for generations. Como’s heartfelt rendition captures the song’s essence perfectly, evoking a profound sense of nostalgia and bittersweet longing. It is a song that reminds us of the power of love, the fragility of memories, and the enduring beauty of the past.