Love for Sale
Billie Holiday Lyrics


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Love for sale.
Appetizing, young love for sale.
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled. Love that's only slighty soiled.
Love for sale.

Who will buy?
Who will like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale.

Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way.
I know every type of love better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love I've been through the mid'l of love.
Old love. New love. Every love, but true love.

Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.




If you want to buy my wares, follow me and climb the stairs.
Love for sale.

Overall Meaning

The song "Love For Sale" by Billie Holiday is a provocative and daring exploration of the commodification of love and intimacy. The lyrics describe love as a product that is bought and sold like any other, and the singer invites potential buyers to sample her wares. The first two lines are a direct pitch to the listener, offering "appetizing, young love for sale" that is both fresh and unspoiled, but only slightly soiled. The phrase "love for sale" is repeated throughout the song, as if to hammer home the idea that love can be reduced to a commodity that can be bought and sold.


The chorus of the song asks the provocative question, "who will buy?" The singer is inviting potential buyers to sample her supply, and is daring them to pay the price for a trip to paradise. This suggests that love is not a given, but rather something that must be earned, and that it is something that can be bought with the right price. The line "let the poets pipe of love in their childish way" is a direct critique of love songs that are too idealistic and unrealistic, suggesting that the singer is offering a more realistic and cynical take on love.


The final lines of the song provide a powerful indictment of the entire concept of love for sale. The singer claims that she knows "every type of love better far than they," meaning that she has experienced every kind of love, but none of them have been true. The implication is that true love cannot be bought or sold, and that the entire concept of love for sale is a false and empty one.


Line by Line Meaning

Love for sale.
The singer is advertising the sale of love.


Appetizing, young love for sale.
The love being sold is desirable and youthful.


Love that's fresh and still unspoiled. Love that's only slighty soiled.
The love being sold is new and untouched, but also slightly tainted.


Who will buy?
The artist is asking who is interested in buying their love.


Who will like to sample my supply?
The artist is asking who would like to try their love before making a purchase.


Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
The singer is asking who is willing to pay the price for an experience of love that will transport them to paradise.


Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way.
The singer dismisses the way poets romanticize love as immature and inexperienced.


I know every type of love better far than they.
The artist claims to have more knowledge and experience of love than the poets do.


If you want the thrill of love I've been through the mid'l of love.
The artist has experienced the excitement of love firsthand and can provide it to the buyer.


Old love. New love. Every love, but true love.
The artist has experienced all types of love, except for true love.


If you want to buy my wares, follow me and climb the stairs.
The singer invites the buyer to follow them and purchase their love.


Love for sale.
The artist reiterates their offer to sell love.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

SPILL TEA TV

Love for sale.
Appetizing, young love for sale.
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled. Love that's only slighty soiled.
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who will like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale.
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way.
I know every type of love better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love I've been through the mid'l of love.
Old love. New love. Every love, but true love.
Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.
If you want to buy my wares, follow me and climb the stairs.
Love for sale.



All comments from YouTube:

monkeysee 75

The best version by far and with the most understanding of the lyrics. Billie really got this song.

The_Emma_503_2.0

"Voy encontrarla ahora mismo donde sea que este" 😢❤

JosedavidDvd_2

La ley del hielo, que sample tan exquisito de una leyenda.

Josesito Bandicoot 7u7

😢

Ava Alami

Criticize her all you want... She is one of the greatest for ever. Unique expression and deepest feeling. ❤️

Perry Weiner

Why criticize her? She was one of the musical geniuses of the 20th Century!

Bri Griffiths

Probably the best CD my father ever bought

SPILL TEA TV

Love for sale.
Appetizing, young love for sale.
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled. Love that's only slighty soiled.
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who will like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale.
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way.
I know every type of love better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love I've been through the mid'l of love.
Old love. New love. Every love, but true love.
Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.
If you want to buy my wares, follow me and climb the stairs.
Love for sale.

Harry Mullany

Billie & Oscar (2 masters) milk this song to the max.

Okmusix

Hello,
stay in touch, we constantly insert new videos.
Thanks.

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