Context

This line is from the song "Memory" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn from the musical Cats (1981).

Cats has been called a plotless musical. Yes, even more than Seinfeld, it's a show about nothing. Well, nothing more than cats. So, you're not missing tons of important info if you come in while Grizabella is singing her heart out during "Memory." Basically, this formerly glamorous cat has gotten old and mangy. Her song is all about the memories of those old and awesome days in the sun. Her glory days.

Of course, there's hope for her yet. One of the other cats, Old Deuteronomy, gets to pick one cat to be reborn. Guess who he's gonna choose? Yup, Grizabella is waiting for the sunrise, her new life, and a new dawn that will bring her happy memories yet again.

Where you've heard it

Oh, memories! Sweet beautiful memories! This quote will probably come up when folks are looking forward to the good times to be had tomorrow…all while remembering that yesterday was pretty great, too.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

You might want to try posing a bit like Norma Desmond when you pull off this line. Pining for the old days and looking forward to the new might make you seem a little hoity, but you won't mind when Old Deuteronomy picks you to ascend to the Heaviside Layer. Huzzah!