One For My Baby
Aiello, the second youngest of six children, was born in Manhattan,[3] the … Read Full Bio ↴Aiello, the second youngest of six children, was born in Manhattan,[3] the son of Italian American parents Frances (née Pietrocova), a seamstress who was a native of Naples, Italy, and Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr., a laborer. Aiello's father deserted the family even though his wife had gone blind. For many years, Aiello had publicly condemned his father's desertion of his children and his blind wife. Aiello reconciled with his father in 1993, but to this day harbors a resentment of his father's conduct.[2][4][5] He moved to the South Bronx when he was age 7 and later attended James Monroe High School.[5] At the age of 16, Aiello lied about his age in order to enlist in the U.S. Army. After serving for three years, he returned to New York City and did various jobs in order to support himself and later his family. Aiello also once served as a union representative for Greyhound bus workers and was a night club bouncer at the legendary New York comedy club The Improv.

One For My Baby
Danny Aiello Lyrics


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It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know

We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

I know the routine, put another nickel
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad

I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away

Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear

But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode




Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

Overall Meaning

Danny Aiello's One for My Baby is a melancholic song about a man trying to drown his sorrows at a bar. The lyrics depict a man lost in his thoughts, feeling lonely and down. The setting is a deserted bar late at night, where the only two people present are the singer and the bartender, Joe.


The singer requests another drink, and then goes on to ask Joe to put on some sad music, matching his somber mood. He tells Joe that he has a lot on his mind, but most of it cannot be shared, implying that he is carrying some emotional baggage that is tearing him apart. At the end of the song, the singer thanks Joe for listening, bids him farewell and asks for one last drink to forget his sorrows.


The song's piano arrangement complements the mood of the lyrics, with slow, mournful chords in the background. The lyrics, though simple, paint a vivid picture of the man's mental state, and his desperation to find some solace in the bottom of a glass. The song is a classic example of a 'torch song,' evoking images of heartache and unrequited love. It has been covered by several artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, who made his version of the song a hit.


Line by Line Meaning

It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's late at night and the place is empty


Except you and me
Just the bartender and the singer are there


So set 'em up Joe, I got a little story
Pour some drinks, I want to share something with you


I think you should know
It's important for me to tell you


We're drinking my friend, to the end
We're having a drink together, as friends, till the end of this night


Of a brief episode
Of a short and fleeting moment in time


Make it one for my baby
Pour me a drink for my sorrow


And one more for the road
An additional drink to keep me company on my way home


I know the routine, put another nickel
I'm familiar with how things work, put on another song


In the machine
In the jukebox


I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
I'm feeling down, can you play something that matches my mood


Easy and sad
Simple and melancholic


I could tell you a lot, but it's not
I have a lot to say, but it's not appropriate or polite


In a gentleman's code
According to the unspoken rules of being a gentleman, I won't say more


You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
You wouldn't guess it, but I consider myself a bit of a writer


And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
I have many thoughts and feelings I want to express


And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
If I seem sad, can you lend me your ear


Till it's talked away
Until my sadness is talked out


Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
That's life, and I know you want to close up soon, Joe


Anxious to close
Eager to end the night


Thanks for the cheer
Thank you for keeping me company


I hope you didn't mind
I hope I didn't bother you too much


My bending your ear
For talking so much


But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
But this intense feeling I have, I need to let go of


Or it's gonna explode
Or it will overwhelm me


Make it one for my baby
Pour me another drink to help me let go


And one more for the road
One more drink to keep me going on my journey




Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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