Nobody Else But Me
Brad Mehldau Lyrics


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I was a shy, demure type
Inhibited, insecure type of maid
I stayed within my little shell
Till a certain cutie told me I was swell
Now I'm smug and snooty
Confident as hell

I want to be no-one but me
I am in love with a lover who likes me the way I am
I have my faults, he likes my faults
I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
He may be wrong, but if we get along
What do we care say we
When he holds me close, close as we can be
I tell the lad that I'm grateful and I'm glad that
I'm nobody else but me

I have my faults, he likes my faults
I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
I get a thrill knowing he gets a thrill
When I sit on his knee
Walking on the shore, swimming in the sea
When I am with him, I'm glad that girl who's with him
Is nobody else but me

When he holds me close, close as we can be




I tell the lad that I'm grateful and I'm glad that
I'm nobody else but me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brad Mehldau Trio's Nobody Else But Me celebrate self-acceptance and finding a loving partner who likes one just the way they are. The singer begins the song describing herself as a "shy, demure type" who was "inhibited" and "insecure." However, all it takes is for "a certain cutie" to tell her that she's "swell," and she transforms into a self-assured person, "smug and snooty/confident as hell." The message is clear: acceptance and love from someone else can have a profound effect on our self-esteem and sense of worth.


But the song is not just about the transformative power of love from another person. The singer goes on to sing about the faults she has and how her lover still thinks she's grand. They may not be the brightest couple, but they have a deep appreciation for one another that transcends intellect. The final lines of the song circle back to the opening sentiment: "I'm grateful and I'm glad that I'm nobody else but me." Here, the singer is not only grateful for her loving partner but also grateful for who she is.


In essence, Nobody Else But Me is a song about the beauty of self-love and acceptance, and how finding that kind of acceptance and appreciation in another person can be a wonderful thing.


Line by Line Meaning

I was a shy, demure type
I used to be a reserved and modest person


Inhibited, insecure type of maid
I was a shy and self-doubting woman


I stayed within my little shell
I kept to myself and didn't interact much with others


Till a certain cutie told me I was swell
Until a particular person complimented me and made me feel good about myself


Now I'm smug and snooty
Now I'm overly confident and proud


Confident as hell
I feel extremely sure of myself


I want to be no-one but me
I desire to be my authentic self


I am in love with a lover who likes me the way I am
I'm in love with someone who accepts me for who I am


I have my faults, he likes my faults
I have imperfections that he finds endearing


I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
We're not the most intelligent people, but that doesn't matter to us


He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
He has a high opinion of me, and I'm thrilled about that


He may be wrong, but if we get along
He might be mistaken, but we have a good relationship regardless


What do we care say we
Why should we worry about what others think?


When he holds me close, close as we can be
When we're in each other's arms, as intimate as possible


I tell the lad that I'm grateful and I'm glad that
I express gratitude to my partner for loving me as I am


I'm nobody else but me
I'm happy to be myself and no one else


I get a thrill knowing he gets a thrill
I'm excited that my partner gets excited by me


When I sit on his knee
When I'm close to him and feeling affectionate


Walking on the shore, swimming in the sea
Enjoying outdoor activities together


When I am with him, I'm glad that girl who's with him
When I'm around him, I'm happy that the person he's with is me


Is nobody else but me
I'm content that I'm the one he's with and no one else




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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