For You and Me

Lyricist. Irene Castle

Publisher. M. Witmark & Sons

Date. 1918

Key/Range. F Major (c' -- f")

COMMENTARY

The lyric in this song concentrates upon the emotions of separation. Castle’s imagery of longing—burning lips, throbbing heart—are set by Tours with a series of dominant sonorities that progress gradually around the circle of fifths and back (III7-VI7-II7-V7-I7-IV7-II7-V7) toward the goal of the tonic, which arrives at the explanation of why she feels this passion: “Because God made me, dear, for you!” The song climaxes, in typical fashion, toward the end of the second half of the binary with a cadence using a diminished chord built on the first degree (io 7-I) on the word “Eternity.” The opening gesture—a ♭VI-I cadence—acts as a bookmark for the song, which at the outset prepares the listener for the harmonic adventures to come.