I Get a Kick out of You
Cole Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
The only exception I know is the case
When I'm out on a quiet spree
Fighting vainly the old ennui
And I suddenly turn and see
Your fabulous face
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all
So tell me why should it be true
That I get a kick out of you
Some get a kick from cocaine
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
That would bore me terrifically too
Yet I get a kick out of you
I get a kick every time I see
You're standing there before me
I get a kick though it's clear to me
You obviously do not adore me
I get no kick in a plane
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do
Yet I get a kick out of you
I get no kick in a plane
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do
Yet I get a kick out of you
The song "I Get a Kick out of You" by Cole Porter expresses the singer's fondness for a person, despite their own complicated and tumultuous life. The first verse sets the stage by stating that the singer's personal story is too heartrending to share, but that they find everything else in life to be dull and unimpressive, except for the one instance in which they see the face of the person they are addressing. In the second verse, the singer poignantly reveals that they find no enjoyment in fine champagne, as this doesn't thrill them or give them any sort of kick. Despite this, the person they are singing to gives them an incomparable thrill, so much so that they ask, "So tell me why should it be true, that I get a kick out of you?"
The third verse goes on to contrast the singer's value system with those of others. While they assert that they wouldn't get any pleasure out of cocaine, they still find this individual to be more captivating than that dangerous substance. Additionally, they confirm that they find pleasure in simply looking at the person they admire, even though they know that same individual does not reciprocate their feelings. Finally, the last verse is perhaps the most paradoxical of all, as the singer declares they find no pleasure in flying in a plane, especially with someone they don't care about. Counter to this, the mere presence of the person to whom they are singing gives them the exact opposite feeling, which is an inexplicable and alluring "kick."
Line by Line Meaning
My story is much too sad to be told
I don't like to talk about my past because it brings me sadness and pain.
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
I'm usually uninterested and uninspired by most things in life.
The only exception I know is the case
However, there is one exception to this disinterest.
When I'm out on a quiet spree
When I'm out and about doing nothing in particular.
Fighting vainly the old ennui
Trying to overcome my persistent and wearisome feeling of boredom and unfulfillment.
And I suddenly turn and see
But then something unexpected happens.
Your fabulous face
I see your beautiful and captivating face.
I get no kick from champagne
I don't find any pleasure or excitement in drinking champagne.
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all
Drinking any type of alcohol doesn't give me any pleasure or excitement.
So tell me why should it be true
I'm puzzled by the fact that there is only one exception to my disinterest.
That I get a kick out of you
But the one thing that excites me and gives me pleasure is being with you.
Some get a kick from cocaine
Other people find pleasure and excitement from using cocaine.
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
Even if I tried cocaine just once,
That would bore me terrifically too
I still wouldn't find it exciting or enjoyable.
Yet I get a kick out of you
But being with you still gives me excitement and pleasure despite my disinterest in most things.
I get a kick every time I see
Every time I see you,
You're standing there before me
Just standing in front of me,
I get a kick though it's clear to me
Despite the fact that I know,
You obviously do not adore me
You don't have the same feelings for me as I do for you.
I get no kick in a plane
I don't find any excitement or pleasure in flying in a plane.
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Flying at a high altitude with somebody else.
Is my idea of nothing to do
To me, it sounds like a completely boring and uneventful activity.
Yet I get a kick out of you
Despite that, being with you still gives me excitement and pleasure.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Faris Raza
My story is much to sad to be told
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
The only exception I know is the case
When I'm out on a quiet spree, fighting vainly the old ennui
And I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face
I get no kick from champagne
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all
So tell me why should it be true
That I get a kick out of you
Some get a kick from cocaine
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
That would bore me terrifically too
But I get a kick out of you
I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me
I get a kick though it's clear to me, you obviously don't adore me
I get no kick in a plane, flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do, yet I get a kick out of you
I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me
I get a kick though it's clear to me, you obviously don't adore me
I get no kick in a plane, flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do, yet I get a kick out of you
Mark Blackburn
Ten years (and 300 thousand 'views' ago) Crocodile Macodile (not his real name) posted this to YouTube: the original recording of Cole Porter's I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU – a song included on Tony Bennett's latest (6X) Grammy-nominated all- Cole Porter album with Lady Gaga. Until this moment, I'd never heard the original – the very first recording of this 'girl song' introduced on Broadway by Ethel Merman. (I'd forgotten that Cole Porter included a “sniff of cocaine” in the original lyric!) Below this video, some informed reminders of why Ethel Merman was once the beloved 'Queen of Broadway.'
Dan Bridston (4 years ago)
She could certainly belt, but the beautiful head voice tone at the end shows off a different side of her.
M Wm. Morgan (4 years ago)
The woman never needed a microphone. She ruled Broadway.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"I Get a Kick Out of You" is a song by Cole Porter, which was first sung in the 1934 Broadway musical Anything Goes, and then in the 1936 film version. Originally sung by Ethel Merman, it has been covered by dozens of prominent performers, including Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga. A cover in 1995 won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal(s) for arranger Rob McConnell while Bennett and Gaga's version is nominated for three awards at the 2022 ceremony.
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Thanks for sharing. Celebrated elsewhere this day [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "
Chattyroz
Cole Porter would have to be the most erudite composer of songs ever! And his wonderful command of language takes nothing away from his glorious melodies. A genius, if ever there was one.
New Jack
What is "erudite"?
kitch Fairman
@New Jack
having or showing great knowledge or learning. Wisdom!
Anakin Dean
I guess Im pretty randomly asking but does anyone know of a good place to watch new tv shows online?
Stephanie Gormley
And he was the ultimate 'show tune' writer. His music has been used in movies as diverse as 'Johnny Dangeroulsy'...'Evil Under the Sun'....'America's Sweethearts' and "Blazing Saddles" (probably more) all of which fit so seemlessly into the movies they sound (if you'd never heard them before) as though they were written for that movie.
Chattyroz
@New Jack Erudite means educated, well read. Cole Porter had the best grasp of English since Winston Churchill, who was possibly the all time champion, unless you want to count Shakespeare.
Rory D
I love this song; the lyrics are terrifically too.
Faris Raza
My story is much to sad to be told
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
The only exception I know is the case
When I'm out on a quiet spree, fighting vainly the old ennui
And I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face
I get no kick from champagne
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all
So tell me why should it be true
That I get a kick out of you
Some get a kick from cocaine
I'm sure that if I took even one sniff
That would bore me terrifically too
But I get a kick out of you
I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me
I get a kick though it's clear to me, you obviously don't adore me
I get no kick in a plane, flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do, yet I get a kick out of you
I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me
I get a kick though it's clear to me, you obviously don't adore me
I get no kick in a plane, flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do, yet I get a kick out of you
jacksparrowismydaddy
I woulda loved to hear Clevon Little (blazing saddles if you never seen it) sing the entire song.
Super Hero
This is a certified hood classic