sam, i thought i told you never to play...

the tension is instant in the scene on what is repeatedly cited as the most popular love song of all time by movie experts and film lovers from around the world. the american film institute lists it as the #2 movie song in 100 years of music. their number one song is over the rainbow. but, that's not a love song.

a legend began with as time goes by from the movie casablanca. the legend is that the line ilsa uses in the movie is play it again, sam. nothing is farther from the truth. woody allen only made it worse by naming a movie with the phrase.

what ilsa actually says is:

play it once, sam....
for old-times sake....
play it, sam.
play...
as time goes by .

la di, de di de dum, la di de de de dum...

sing it, sam.

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

the acting is all in the faces. watch sam, ilsa and rick. the emotions flash quickly from just their expressions. if you've never seen the film, you will not miss 85 minutes from your life. the movie is well worth it.