For You
Dave Brubeck Lyrics


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I remember other days how I used to weep
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
You forgot your promises, every single vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now

I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me

How can I forget the hours that I worried through
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
In those days you never thought anything of me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free

I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer




I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of For You by Dave Brubeck tell the story of a relationship that has gone sour, with one person breaking promises and laughing at the other's feelings. The singer remembers how they used to weep over the hurtful things that were said, unable to sleep at night. However, the tables have turned and now the person who caused the pain is the one crying, learning that every road has a turning. The singer has found someone else, with eyes a little bluer and a heart a little truer, and is no longer the slave of their past lover. They have cried for them, but now it is their turn to cry over the singer.


The song conveys a message of empowerment and moving on from a toxic relationship. It depicts the journey from crying and being hurt to finding liberation and joy in a new love. The turning of the tables represents justice and a sense of closure, as the person who caused the pain experiences the same emotions that were once inflicted upon the singer. Overall, the lyrics are introspective and convey a sense of self-discovery and growth.


Line by Line Meaning

I remember other days how I used to weep
I recall the past when I would cry


Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
I cried because of the hurtful things you said that kept me up at night


You forgot your promises, every single vow
You broke all your promises and abandoned every vow you made to me


All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
You used to mock me, but the tables have turned


I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I wept for you, but now it's your time to weep for me


Every road has a turning
Life is unpredictable with twists and turns


That's one thing you're learning
It's a lesson you're now experiencing


I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I was foolish for crying for you


Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
Now I've found someone with prettier eyes


I found a heart just a little bit truer
I've found someone with a more loyal heart


How can I forget the hours that I worried through
I can't erase the memory of the countless hours I spent worrying


Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
Thinking all day about what to do next


In those days you never thought anything of me
In the past, you never valued me


But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I was your slave, but now I'm finally free


I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I wept for you, now it's your turn to weep for me




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@squintstheninja

So, famously, Dave Brubeck said that the group never intended for this song to be as famous as it became. Paul Desmond had a lick he wanted to play around with, and they used the opportunity to give Joe Morello an overdue drum solo.

So, Dave and Eugene kinda took a backseat while Paul did his thing, and then Joe got his solo.

But Joe could have gone nuts here. This is the era of Buddy Rich and Art Blakey. Drum solos were marked by how fast and how hard you can bash everything.

For one of jazz's most influential groups, in the group's most famous song- a jazz standard and by extention, arguably one of the most famous drum solos in jazz- Joe Morello's solo was so simple, a middle schooler on a PlayTek My First Kit could play it.

Joe could have gone nuts. He could have gone ferral for three minutes Whiplash-style. The team gave him a blank check to flex.

He didn't. He decided to just... he just vibed out, man.

They say jazz is about the notes you don't play. In that case, this is the greatest jazz drum solo of all time.



All comments from YouTube:

@baldilocks1914

I'm just going to leave my comment here so when someone likes it I can listen to this masterpiece again.

@ItsLarry-in1jq

Something tells me you're gonna be listening to this song a lot for the next while lol

@paulbellamy9920

Wanted to give you the gift of listening again. Happy holidays my friend.

@lioncat84

Sure, but right now this comment has 69 likes. Niiiiceee.

@McGuyveracity

You're welcome. 😊

@Tae__story

Like from Korea🖤

27 More Replies...

@robadobflob3405

Most people may not realize it, but for most of the song the saxophonist is playing incredibly quietly. It takes great skill to be able to play with a full, round tone at those volumes. It is so quiet on the sax track that you can hear the keys clicking and his fingers touching the brass sax.

@keibraun8679

I play the Alto as well, and I can vouch. It takes YEARS. YEARS of experience to the point where someone can make the saxophone’s tone even across the range of octaves and notes. Let alone quietly with a full sound, and a mysterious twist on the whole thing. There’s alot more that goes into the saxophone than just playing that many people don’t realize. He’s truly an amazing saxophonist.

@nicot9305

Thank you for pointing this out to us non-sax players.

Just to keep things clear for people new to jazz, Dave Brubeck is the piano player. As a non-sax player, I don't know the name of this amazing sax-player. But he's great!

Just from listening to this song for most of my life, I always thought Dave Brubeck was the sax player. So for young, and older, people who read these things....Know your Jazz!

@johnderouen1038

@@nicot9305 Paul Desmond is the saxophonist. Eugene Wright is on bass, and Joe Morello is on drums. Brilliant musicians, the lot of 'em.

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