H ow sad Venice can be
When y ou return alone
To f ind a memory
In every paving s tone.
I walk among the birds
That f ill San Marco's Square
With e choes of her words
Around me in the a ir.
H ow sad Venice can be
When the m andolins play
A s ong she sung for me
One unforgotten d ay.
L ike images of sleep
T he gondoliers go by
But w hen I try to weep
I f ind my tears are d ry.
H ow sad Venice can be
When m ist is in your eyes
And you can h ardly see
As pigeons fill the s kies.
I f ind the little street
And t hen the old café
Where w e would always meet
To dream away the d ay.
H ow sad Venice can be
Be-n eath the silent m oon
Th at rises from the sea
And silvers the la-g oon.
I h ear the vespers chime
And c ross the Bridge of Sighs
I k now that it is time
To b id my last good-b yes.
T here's nothing more to say
I p ass beneath the light
And then I t urn away
From V enice in the n ight.
H ow sad Venice can be
It's t oo lonely to b are
When y ou have lost the love
That y ou discovered t here.