I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
Bing Crosby Lyrics


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I guess I'll have to change my plan,
I should have realized there'd be another man,
I overlooked that point completely,
Until the big affair began,

Before I knew where I was at,
I found myself upon the shelf, and that was that,
I tried to reach the moon but when I got there,
All that I could get was the air,

My feet are back upon the ground,
I've lost the one girl (man) I found

I guess I'll have to change my plan,
I should have realized there'd be another man,
Why did I buy those blue pajamas,
Before the big affair began,

My boiling point is much to low
For me to try to be a fly Lothario,
I think I'll crawl right back and into my shell,
Dwelling in my personal hell,





I'll have to change my plan around,
I've lost the one girl (man) I found.

Overall Meaning

In the song "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan," Bing Crosby sings about the realization that another man has entered the picture and he has lost the woman he loved. The beginning of the song suggests that he didn't notice the signs of competition until it was too late, and he soon found himself without a partner. The lyrics "Before I knew where I was at, I found myself upon the shelf, and that was that" indicate that he was left by his loved one without much explanation or understanding of how things went wrong.


The following lyrics suggest that the singer may have tried to move on and find love elsewhere but was unsuccessful in getting what he wanted. He compares his attempts to "reach the moon" to an impossibility, where he was only able to grasp fleeting moments of "the air." Essentially, Crosby indicates that he is unable to find happiness in his pursuit of love and must now accept his reality.


Towards the end of the song, the singer delivers some self-criticisms, indicating that he may not be cut out for a life of promiscuity as a "fly Lothario." Instead, he suggests that he will retreat back to a "personal hell" of solitude, where the only person he can disappoint is himself.


Line by Line Meaning

I guess I'll have to change my plan,
I realize that my original plan is no longer viable.


I should have realized there'd be another man,
I should have known that there was competition for her affection.


I overlooked that point completely,
I missed that crucial piece of information.


Until the big affair began,
I only realized my mistake when it was too late.


Before I knew where I was at,
I found myself in an unexpected situation.


I found myself upon the shelf, and that was that,
I was rejected and there was no going back.


I tried to reach the moon but when I got there,
I aimed too high and was disappointed.


All that I could get was the air,
I came up empty-handed.


My feet are back upon the ground,
I am no longer living in a fantasy world.


I've lost the one girl (man) I found
I have lost the one I love.


Why did I buy those blue pajamas,
Why did I invest so much into something that was ultimately fruitless?


My boiling point is much too low
I am too easily frustrated and give up too quickly when faced with adversity.


For me to try to be a fly Lothario,
It is not in my nature to be a smooth-talking ladies' man.


I think I'll crawl right back and into my shell,
I am retreating from the world and nursing my wounds.


Dwelling in my personal hell,
I am consumed by my own misery.


I'll have to change my plan around,
I need to come up with a new strategy.


I've lost the one girl (man) I found.
I have lost the one I love.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on The Big Movie Show In The Sky

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