McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
Love for Sale
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled, love for sale
Who will buy? Who would 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 mill 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
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 mill 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, love for sale, love for sale
The lyrics to Carmen McRae's "Love for Sale" are a commentary on the commodification of love in society. The song is centered around the character of a prostitute who is selling love, or more accurately, sex for money. The first verse sets the scene of an empty street, on which the only sound is that of a lonesome cop's footsteps. It is in this quiet, empty space that the prostitute decides to "open shop" and begin her business of selling love. The second verse speaks to the prostitute's experience in her line of work, as she notes the waywardness of the town and how she has seen all types of love, from old love to new love, but never true love.
The chorus provides a catchy, almost playful hook for the song, with the repeated phrase "love for sale." The lyrics here highlight the fact that the prostitute's services are not just sex, but a marketed product that can be sampled and purchased. The tone of the song is both cynical and ironic, as the prostitute acknowledges the hollowness of the love she is selling and the ridiculousness of society's affair with it. The final line of the song, "love for sale, love for sale, love for sale," is like a chant, underscoring the repeated cycle of prostitution and commodification.
Overall, "Love for Sale" is a poignant social commentary on the ways in which love is often commodified and sold, rather than being experienced in its true form. Through the eyes of a prostitute, the song offers a sardonic critique of society's commodification of a feeling that should be cherished and respected.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound in the empty street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop I open shop
When it's late at night and the only thing you hear are the footsteps of a lonely cop, I'm ready to do business.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
When the moon shines down on all the people misbehaving in this city for a long time, and it starts getting funny, I get down to work.
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled, love for sale
I have love to sell, the kind that's attractive, new, and not used up yet. It's not perfect, but it still has a little bit of life in it.
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price, for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Who wants to buy some love? Who wants to try what I have to offer? Who's willing to pay the price for a trip to paradise? I have 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 mill of love
Old love, new love every love but true love
The poets can talk about love in their fanciful ways, but I know all the different types of love far better than they do. If you're looking for the excitement of love, I've been through it all before. I've experienced every kind of love except for 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
I have love to sell, the kind that's attractive and new. If you're interested in what I'm selling, come with me and climb the stairs. I have love for sale.
Love for sale, love for sale, love for sale
I have love to sell and it's all for sale.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@moanman1776
It's too bad I was too young to fully GET this music back when it was new & celebrated for its artistry. You go Carmen! You truly showed the world how it's SUPPOSED to be done! One.
@urmonn8162
One of the greatest , she nails this song the best I feel.
@Sansouci1000
I love how the beauty of the song and her singing, mingles with the toughness of the lady.
@michealfrances
She nails it better than any other version on YouTube she's got the version
@byronmatthews868
She had range and control. Wow!
@TheNycpearl
Great recording. Loved this.
@waitaminute7257
Jeez that's fine!
I also love Anita O'Day's big band version from the 63 Japan TV show appearance. Two totally different takes I know but both are fantastic.
@carlachomer
que linda version del clasico love for sale!!
@bigeman25
Carmen a great singer from a very short list of great singers.
@nafisahmohamed4772
It's quite a shock to see this singer from decades past looking so elegant, acting blasé, but singing those notes the way she does look effortless. It's awesome the way she wield her carbon based musical instrument.