Isn't It A Pity
Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics


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Why did I wander
Here and there and yonder
Wasting precious time
For no reason or rhyme

Isn't it a pity
Isn't it a crime
My journeys ended
Everything is splendid

Meeting you today
Has given me a wonderful idea
Here I stay
It's a funny thing

I look at you
I get a thrill
I never knew
Isn't it a pity

We never met before?
Here we are at last
It's like a dream
The two of us

A perfect team
Isn't it a pity
We never met before?
Imagine all the lonely years you wasted

Fishing for salmon
Losing at backgammon
What joys un-tasted
My nights were sour

Spent with Schopenhauer
Let's forget the past
Let's both agree
That I'm for you

And you're for me
And it's such a pity
We never, never met before





It's an awful pity
We never, never met before

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ella Fitzgerald's Isn't It A Pity convey a sense of regret for lost time and missed opportunities. The singer reflects on their aimless wandering, their nights spent with the philosopher Schopenhauer, and the many years they spent alone before finally meeting their perfect match. In the song's refrain, the singer laments the fact that they never met this person earlier: "Isn't it a pity? / We never met before?"


The lyrics suggest that the singer sees meeting this person as a turning point in their life, one that has given them a new perspective on everything. They describe feeling a thrill and experiencing a sense of wonder at finally having found someone who complements them so well. The two are described as a "perfect team" and the singer declares their devotion to the other person, saying "I'm for you / And you're for me."


Overall, the lyrics of "Isn't It A Pity" convey a bittersweet sense of longing and regret for lost time and missed opportunities, but also a sense of hope for a brighter future with this newfound love.


Line by Line Meaning

Why did I wander
Why did I aimlessly wander


Here and there and yonder
All over the place and everywhere


Wasting precious time
Wasting valuable time that matters most


For no reason or rhyme
Without any clear motive or reason


Isn't it a pity
Isn't it a shame or unfortunate


Isn't it a crime
Isn't it wrong or egregious


My journeys ended
My wandering has come to an end now


Everything is splendid
Everything is perfect or wonderful


Meeting you today
Seeing you today for the first time


Has given me a wonderful idea
Has sparked an amazing idea in me


Here I stay
I will remain here with you


It's a funny thing
It's amusing or ironic


I look at you
I gaze at you


I get a thrill
I feel excited or thrilled


I never knew
I never realized or understood before


Isn't it a pity
Isn't it a shame or unfortunate


We never met before?
Why haven't we met earlier?


Here we are at last
Finally, we are together


It's like a dream
It feels unreal or surreal


The two of us
Only the two of us together


A perfect team
A great or perfect match


Imagine all the lonely years you wasted
Think of all the lonely years you spent and didn't have to


Fishing for salmon
Wasting time trying to catch fish


Losing at backgammon
Losing consistently at backgammon game


What joys un-tasted
What pleasures or experiences never enjoyed


My nights were sour
My nights were unpleasant or bitter


Spent with Schopenhauer
Spent reading works of philosopher Schopenhauer


Let's forget the past
Let's move on from the past


Let's both agree
Let's come to an agreement


That I'm for you
That you have me on your side


And you're for me
And that I have you by my side


And it's such a pity
And it's so unfortunate


We never, never met before
That we didn't meet earlier is regrettable


It's an awful pity
It's a terrible or awful regret




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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