Losing My Mind
| PROFILE | |
| Composer and Lyricist | Stephen Sondheim |
| Year Written | 1971 |
| About Losing My Mind | |
| This song is from Sondheim’s 1971 musical Follies, about a reunion of the performers from The Weissman Follies, held as the theatre they performed in is about to be demolished and turned into a parking lot. “Losing My Mind” is sung by Sally Durant, who married one of the stage door Johnnies, Buddy (now a salesman) and lives in Arizona. Her friend Phyllis has married Buddy’s friend Ben, who is quite successful. Sally was in love with Ben years ago and still is. She sings this song about this lost love. The song was introduced on Broadway by Dorothy Collins. In the 1985 concert version of Follies, it was sung by Barbara Cook. | |
Lyrics
The sun comes up – I think about you
The coffee cup – I think about you
I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind
The morning ends – I think about you
I talk to friends – I think about you
And do they know it’s like I’m losing my mind?
All afternoon doing every little chore
The thought of you stays bright
Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor
Not going left – not going right
I dim the lights and think about you
Spend sleepless nights to think about you
You said you loved me, or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing my mind?
I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind
Does no one know its like I’m losing my mind?
All afternoon doing every little chore
The thought of you stays bright
Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor
Not going left – not going right
I dim the lights and think about you
Spend sleepless nights to think about you
You said you loved me, or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing my mind?
Or am I losing my mind?
Session / Album Information
1971
“Losing My Mind” was recorded on May 21, 1971 and released that year on the album Summer of ’42. It was arranged by Torrie Zito and produced by Teo Macero.
This recording released on:
- 1971: Columbia 45: 4-45411
- 1972: Columbia LP 12″: C 31219 — Summer Of ’42
- 1972: CBS LP 12″: S64848 — Summer Of ’42 (UK)
- 2011: Disc #43 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK42) Summer of ’42