The Third Man Theme

Album: The Third Man (1950)
Charted: 1 1
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  • When a zither starts to play
    You'll remember yesterday
    In its haunting strain
    Vienna lives again
    Free and bright and gay
    In your mind a sudden gleam
    Of a half forgotten dream
    Seems to glimmer when you hear the third man theme

    Once again there comes to mind
    Someone that you left behind
    Love that somehow didn't last
    In that happy city of the past
    Does she still recall the dream
    That rapture so supreme
    When first she heard the haunting third man theme?

    Carnivals and carousels and Ferris wheels and parasols
    The Danube nights, the dancing lights again will shine
    The zither's sweet refrain
    Keeps swirling in your brain
    Like new may wine
    Strauss waltzes, candle-glow
    And the laughter of long ago
    Fill the magic chords and make it seem like today

    You never knew that you could be
    Enchanted by a melody
    The years will never drive it out
    You don't know why
    It's something you can't live without
    You hear it in the twilight hush
    And in the morning traffic rush
    A song that's always new
    In your heart a part of you
    Oh, shines so brightly when you hear the third man theme

    When a zither starts to play
    You'll remember yesterday
    In its haunting strain
    Vienna lives again
    Free and bright and gay
    In your mind a sudden gleam
    Of a well remembered dream
    Seems to glimmer when you hear the third man theme

    Once again there comes to mind
    Someone that you left behind
    Love that somehow didn't last
    In that happy city of the past
    Does she still recall the dream
    That rapture so supreme
    When first she heard the haunting third man theme?

    Carnivals and carousels and Ferris wheels and parasols
    The Danube nights, the dancing lights again will shine
    The zither's sweet refrain
    Keeps swirling in your brain
    Like new may wine
    Strauss waltzes, candle-glow
    And the laughter of long ago
    Fill the magic chords and make it seem like today

    You never knew that you could be
    Enchanted by a melody
    The years will never drive it out
    You don't know why
    It's something you can't live without
    You hear it in the twilight hush
    And in the morning traffic rush
    A song that's always new
    In your heart a part of you
    Oh, shines so brightly when you hear the third man theme Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Bob Hardy from Vergennes, VtI have a Telefunken 78 rpm "Das Harry Lime Thema, Nr, A10856
    Zither solo by Anton Karas, flip side Der Cafe, Mozart Waltz. also played by Anton Karas. Platter looks good to me.
    Any interested parties, please contact me.
    Bob Hardy.
    Vergennes, VT 05491
  • Terry from KnutsfordI remember 1949 when everyone in the street was whistling the 'Third Man' theme along with the 'Twelfth Street Rag', both in the hit UK parade at the time.
  • Teresa from Mechelen, BelgiumI already loved this song when I saw the film for the first time, it's very top and I still love it now. A great song and a great film, a joy forever.
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