Straight No Chaser
Chet Baker Lyrics


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One, two
One, two, one, two, three, four

Came to this town
I started moving around
Came to get straight, I had to get straight
No time to wait
God knows, I had to make haste

If things are moving, no time for doodling
I used to wonder how
What everything seemed, we're bound to be delayed
I had to get straight

Straight and I'm done
No time for chasin' around
Tryin' to keep up
I gotta keep up, you wanna know why?
Because they're waiting in line

I'm in a hurry, no time to worry
He's meeting me at three
They might as well come, they really douse themselves
Chasin' it straight

Came to this town
I started moving around
Came to get straight, I had to get straight
No time to wait
God knows, I had to make haste

If things are moving, no time for doodlin'
I used to wonder how
What everything seemed, we're bound to be delayed
I had to get straight

Straight and I'm done
No time for chasin' around
Tryin' to keep up
I gotta keep up, you wanna know why?
Because they're waiting in line

I'm in a hurry, no time to worry
Meeting me at three




They might as well come, they really douse themselves
Chasin' it straight

Overall Meaning

"Straight No Chaser" is a jazz standard performed by Chet Baker that highlights his vocal and trumpet talents. The song is about Baker's desire to get his life in order and live a drug-free life. He aims to straighten up his life and avoid the distractions that hinder his progress. The opening lyrics present the theme of urgency. Baker wants to straighten up his life and is in a hurry to do so. He is determined to achieve his goal without any delay.


Baker was known for his struggle with drug addiction and the lyrics point to this. He talks about "chasin' it straight" and not wanting to "chase around" anymore. He does not want to waste time on distractions and wants to be focused on his goal. He is willing to make sacrifices to reach his objective, even if it means not being there for everyone else who is "waiting in line."


In conclusion, "Straight No Chaser" is a powerful song about personal transformation and perseverance. Baker's lyrics offer insight into the struggles and obstacles he faced on his journey towards sobriety.


Line by Line Meaning

One, two
Counting the beats before the start of the song


One, two, one, two, three, four
Counting the beats to signal the start of the song


Came to this town
Chet arrived in this particular city


I started moving around
He began exploring the new place


Came to get straight, I had to get straight
Chet was determined to kick his drug addiction and clean up his act


No time to wait
He couldn't afford to procrastinate or delay his efforts to get clean


God knows, I had to make haste
He recognized the urgency of his situation and had to act quickly


If things are moving, no time for doodling
If there is progress to be made, there's no time for messing around or wasting time


I used to wonder how
He used to be unsure about how to clean up his life


What everything seemed, we're bound to be delayed
Past attempts were unsuccessful and resulted in setbacks


Straight and I'm done
Chet succeeded in getting clean


No time for chasin' around
He can't afford to waste time pursuing trivial matters


Tryin' to keep up
He's striving to stay on track and maintain his sobriety


I gotta keep up, you wanna know why?
He needs to keep pace because others are depending on him


Because they're waiting in line
Chet has responsibilities and commitments to others who are waiting for him to fulfill them


I'm in a hurry, no time to worry
He's focused on staying on task and can't afford to be distracted or anxious


He's meeting me at three
Chet has a meeting scheduled for later in the day


They might as well come, they really douse themselves
Others who rely on Chet are just as invested in his success as he is, and have made sacrifices to support him


Chasin' it straight
Ultimately, Chet is pursuing a better life for himself and those around him by staying sober and focused




Writer(s): James Poyser, Ben Hudson Mcildowie, Jeymes Samuel

Contributed by Juliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@jean-francoiscatteau6460

Yes ! It's a Great and Good Jazz ! Thanks ;+)

@dyk9144

who played the bass ?

@ricardoarevalo7635

DY K not sure but I’m loving that line

@michelakr

Who sing?

@Christopher.TheGrasshopper

Rachel Gould singing

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