CATS – Memory lyrics

At last, the time has come for Old Deuteronomy to make
The Jellicle Choice and decide which one cat will be reborn
Into a new Jellicle life. At that moment, Grizabella reappears.
Again she recalls her "Memory" of how things used to be. She
Pleads to her brothers and sisters, yearning to come back to
Them. This time, through a greater appreciation of tolerance,
The cats accept her back into the tribe.

Grizabella:
Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses wither away
Like the sunflower I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day

Solo:
Now Old Deuteronomy, just before dawn
Through a silence you feel you could cut with a knife
Announces the cat who can now be reborn
And come back to a different jellicle life

Grizabella:
Memory, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin

Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Burnt out ends of smokey days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life