richard rodgers • oscar hammerstein II
This song is from the 1949 Broadway Musical "South Pacific" and the 1958 Film Musical with the same title. The story of the musical is summed up along with a medley HERE.
The song is from the first act, where the French plantation owner Emile de Becque falls in love with the young American navy nurse Nellie Forbush after meeting at an officers' club dance. In the original Broadway show, Metropolitan Opera star Ezio Pinza had the role as de Becque. Pinza unfortunately died the year before the film was shot, and Rossano Brazzi captured the role mainly because of his looks and common popularity. The voice was dubbed by operatic bass Giorgio Tozzi.
Though sharp competition from the other songs in the musical, this one is regarded the most popular. Swapping pronomenons it is gender neutral, and this has so far (2026) resulted in 660 covers, included instrumentals and a few adaptions. Even before the show had started, Frank Sinatra recorded it, 28th of February 1949. Then the stage production was released, on 7th of March. 1949 was overloaded with covers by artists like Al Jolson, Bing Crosby and Perry Como. A new wave followed when the film was released in 1958, and Mary Martin - the original "Nelly Forbush" from Broadway - recorded it with the composer playing the piano! But the flood of versions is, by all means, no wonder. This composition drills itself into your skull and plugs the hole.
some enchanted evening you may see a stranger
you may see a stranger across a crowded room
and somehow you know : you know even then
that somewhere you'll see her again and again
some enchanted evening : someone may be laughing
you may hear her laughing across a crowded room
and night after night as strange as it seems
the sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams
who can explain it : who can tell you why
fools give you reasons : wise men never try
some enchanted evening when you find your true love
when you feel her call you across a crowded room
then fly to her side and make her your own
or all through your life you may dream all alone
Once you have found her : never let her go
once you have found her : never let her go!
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G [Em7] D7 some enchanted evening you may see a stranger D G Gaug Cmaj7 Am you may see a stranger across a crowded room D6 Am Am7 D7 Bm Em ...D...C and somehow you know you know even then D7 Bm D D6 G that somewhere you'll see her again and again G [Gdim7] G [Em7] D7 some enchanted evening someone may be laughing D G Gaug Cmaj7 Am you may hear her laughing across a crowded room D6 Am Am7 D7 Bm Em ...D...C and night after night as strange as it seems D7 Bm D D6 G the sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams C G D7 Em who can explain it who can tell you why C Bm Am Am7 D ...D7 fools give you reasons wise men never try G [Gdim7] G [Em7] D7 some enchanted evening when you find your true love D G Gaug Cmaj7 Am when you feel her call you across a crowded room D6 Am Am7 D7 Bm Em ...D...C then fly to her side and make her your own D7 Bm D D6 G or all through your life you may dream all alone C G Am Em Once you have found her never let her go C Bm Am Am7 D7sus4 G once you have found her never let her go
