Remember when you were 16, you'd hold your girl's hand and stroll down to the corner drugstore for a couple of ice cream corns.
And then on down to the city cafe, where you'd have dinner.
Well, I was back in the old hometown a few months ago.
And about 9 o'clock at night, I took that same stroll all by myself.
To the drugstore, on down to the city cafe.
And as I sat there all alone in a booth, I wrote these words in a song.
It's called Dating a Memory.
And wherever you are, darling, well, I hope you're listening.
I'll go down to the corner.
To the corner drugstore.
And I'll order an ice cream cone.
No, mister, make it two.
For I'll eat one.
And I'll hold one.
And pretend I'm sitting with you.
Then on down to the city cafe, I will order dinner for two.
Though I know it is all just a memory.
I'll pretend I'm dining with you.
And in your hands I'll place red roses.
You will smile and hold me tight.
And oh, what a beautiful memory
And I'm dating that memory tonight
Oh, if I could only call back the hours
But they're too many now
And if I could walk the same old miles with Mary
But they're too long somehow
But they can't take away a memory
And they can't stop me from dreaming
My God, what a gal
And what a fool I was to let her go
But I didn't know till I met so many more
But I got my glad rags on
And I'm dating that memory tonight
And my shoes shine bright
And I'm gonna have a wonderful time
With just me
For I'm dating a wonderful memory tonight
Oh, what a dream you were, my dear
And goodnight
And I'm dating a memory
Tonight