If that's not legal, then my favorite from a show is "I Know Your Heart" from HIGH SPIRITS by Timothy Gray and Hugh Martin. That was actually my first Broadway show, for which I was the rehearsal pianist!

The Chorus:

I'LL BUY YOU A STAR, NOT JUST A STAR, BUT THE BEST ONE IN THE SKY.

YOU'LL HAVE A CLOUD TO SLEEP ON, A CLOUD AS LIGHT AS AN ANGELS SIGH.

A FINE SILVER CHAIN MADE FROM THE RAIN OF A SUMMER AFTERNOON. I'LL BUY YOU A STAR MY DARLING, BUT I WON'T REST UNTIL I BUY THE MOON.

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" - The song speaks to everyone's secret fear, being alone without a loved one on New Year's Eve...

Then, "Some Enchanted Evening," because it is a great romantic song, but also because when I opened in a run of SOUTH PACIFIC, my husband sent me a beautiful watercolor he had painted of a sunset with the words "Once you have found her, never let her go" written across the sky....now that's romantic!

I had the privilege of hearing Sally Murphy and Michael Hayden perform the song and scene at a Lincoln Center Theater gala last year and was once again blown away by its enduring power and beauty.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

There are two songs that fit this description perfectly, and they never fail to move me. The first, fittingly enough, is "My Funny Valentine". (Pal Joey, Rodgers & Hart.) "Your looks are laughable/Unphotographable/Yet you're my favorite work of art". The other is "What Makes Me Love Him?". (The Apple Tree, Bock & Harnick.) "What makes me love him?/It's not his singing/I've heard his singing/It spoils the milk/And yet, it's gotten to the point where I prefer that kind of milk". It's set to a brilliantly simple melody, which makes it all the more romantic and poignant. I don't mind admitting that it makes me cry every time I hear it.

I'm not saying it has to be a love affair...just as long as it's how you feel. Hey...it could even be a long-haired dachshund!

A strange choice, I grant you, but I think it honestly shows ALL kinds of love lyrically-speaking, and, musically, the sense of longing in the actual accompaniment joined with the familiarity/comfort of the song's orchestration (in the original production - and that's not meant as a dig to the current revival's brilliantly realized and fitting orchestrations); truly utilizing the strings and the brass as - up to that point - the audience's "friends", for me, adds up to being the definition of romantic. Or, if this diatribe is a bit much, just say I said "People Will Say We're In Love", and put whatever reason you'd like.

haven't had time to wake up seeing you there without your make-up oh well... we'll catch up some other time...." etc etc etc. ! !

2. Any love song sung by Barbara Cook! most especially, the exquisite "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Mister Snow" 3. "Joanna" from SWEENEY TODD

Happy Valentine's Day!

Anyone else would find me boring, Too (something) too serious, too square And who else could tolerate my snoring? You even claim to like it It tells you I'm still there You gallantry is just incredible Although I disappoint you You seldom let it show I serve you steak that's practically inedible How patiently you chew it I don't know how you do it For that alone, I'll never let you go. I must have been crazy to change the status quo.

So.... Come over here, you're still not near enough I see i haven't made it nearly clear enough. I feel safe with you, and complete with you I'm always finding money in the street with you You're the only one I care to be with The only one, I can be me with Oh, I've tried, and it's true, I COULDN'T BE WITH ANYONE BUT YOU

I mean WHO WRITES THAT!?!?!?!? Blessed, inspired, SIMPLE, heartfelt, moving, fantastic. Makes me want to be a better writer, singer, PERSON. Happy Valentines Day, Love Gavin

This is the ONLY song from theatre that I've mesmerized known rock n'rollers with! It is that febrile, feverish, and heartshattering. A romance for LOVE LOST but VISION CREATED! Thank you, Mr, Sondheim. With transcendence and tumescence. All the other"romantic songs" sound like a little music box next to this mighty church organ.

Of course, I confess to having written "Once upon a time there was light in my life/Now there's only love in the dark/Nothing I can do/A total eclipse of the heart."

I also love "It Only Takes a Moment" from HELLO, DOLLY! Jerry Herman is my personal favorite!

"All The Things You Are" also by Hammerstein and Kern from VERY WARM FOR MAY. This song's long, lyrical melody line is quite possibly the most beautiful thing ever. AS for the well-constructed lyrics, the first half of the verse sets up the singer's questions and problems about searching for love, and the next part quells those worries - this time with a more grounded melody. But the real romance begins with the refrain - all those perfect 4ths really ground those flowery Hammerstein metaphors. Notice how he doesn't use similes!: "You ARE the promised kiss of springtime... You ARE the breathless hush of evening" (not "you are LIKE") - it's so definite! And then we learn that the singer doesn't quite have the love of the other person yet... "Someday my happy arms will hold you..." which brings longing into the picture, making the song more active and hopeful. Yummy.

"How Could I Ever Know?" with Lyrics by Marsha Norman and Music by Lucy Simon from The Secret Garden. The sentiment of pure ache pouring out of this song makes me weak in the knees. There is such regret and longing at the sense of unfairness in the world that has separated these two lovers you just want to cry. The fact that they're apart makes their love that much stronger. The sorrow; the plea of forgiveness (as if it was anyone's fault...), the soaring melody line - to me, that is romantic.

"My romance doesn't need a thing... but you."

"Will He Like Me?" from She Loves Me "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific "The Light in the Piazza" from The Light in the Piazza "So in Love" from Kiss Me, Kate "They Were You" from The Fantasticks