Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
I Get a Kick out of You
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
Yes, 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, one sniff
That would bore me terrifically too
Oh, baby, 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, yes
I get no kick in a plane
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do
Yet, baby I get a kick out of you
Yes, I get a kick every time I see
You're standing there before me
Baby, I get a kick though it's clear to me
You obviously, ah, don't adore me
Mama, I get no kick in a plane
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do
Yet, baby, I get a kick
Mama, I get a boot
I get a kick babadadada you
The lyrics to Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong’s “I Get a Kick out of You” are about the singer’s inability to derive pleasure from most of the things in life, except for one exception- seeing the person he is singing to. He starts off discussing how sad his story is, and how most things leave him cold, but when he’s out and about and enjoys himself, the only thing that truly gives him a kick is seeing this person’s face. He then goes on to say that he doesn’t find alcohol or even cocaine thrilling, but when he sees this person, he gets a rush of excitement.
The remainder of the song emphasizes how much he enjoys being in the presence of this person, despite the fact that he knows they don’t feel the same way about him. He mentions that he gets no kick from flying, a metaphor for achieving great heights or experience, with someone else (“flying too high with some guy in the sky”), and that he doesn’t need those things to feel alive; all he needs is the memory of this person’s face. By the end of the song, it’s clear that he gets a “kick” out of life itself simply because he knows this person exists.
Line by Line Meaning
My story is much too sad to be told
My life has been full of sorrow and pain that it cannot be explained to anyone
But practically everything leaves me totally cold
I don't find pleasure or excitement in most things and I'm usually indifferent towards them
Yes, the only exception I know is the case
However, there is one thing that makes me feel alive and joyful
When I'm out on a quiet spree
Whenever I'm walking around calmly without any distractions or noise around me
Fighting vainly the old ennui
Trying to resist the feeling of boredom and monotony that comes with everyday life
And I suddenly turn and see
And then I unexpectedly catch sight of
Your fabulous face
Your beautiful and attractive face
Yes, I get no kick from champagne
Drinking champagne or any other alcohol doesn't give me any pleasure or excitement
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all
Just drinking alcohol doesn't interest me, it's not thrilling
So tell me why should it be true
So why is it that
That I get a kick out of you
But I can't help feeling excited and alive when I'm with you
Some get a kick from cocaine
Some people find pleasure and excitement in using cocaine
I'm sure that if I took even one, one sniff
I'm certain that even if I tried it just once
That would bore me terrifically too
I would find it just as uninteresting and boring as everything else
Oh, baby, I get a kick out of you
But with you, I feel thrilled and excited nonetheless
I get a kick every time I see
I feel a rush of excitement every time I lay my eyes on
You're standing there before me
You're standing right in front of me
I get a kick though it's clear to me
I still feel excited even though
You obviously do not adore me, yes
It's quite clear that you don't love me, but my feelings persist anyway
I get no kick in a plane
Flying in a plane doesn't give me any pleasure or excitement
Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Being up in a plane with a man I don't love
Is my idea of nothing to do
Is the epitome of a boring and unexciting activity for me
Yet, baby I get a kick out of you
And yet, I can't help but feel excited and thrilled when I'm with you
Mama, I get no kick in a plane
'Mama', I'm just reiterating that I don't enjoy flying
Mama, I get a boot
But with you, I feel alive and stimulated
I get a kick babadadada you
I feel happy and excited because of you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kalabanham
My story is much too 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 x2
@h.o.l.e.h.e.a.d1578
My story is much too 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're 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
I get a kick out of you
@aml3668
Oh, heaven.
That voice. I'm not one for swooning, but when it comes to Ella Fitzgerald, swoon I do.
How she could capture the spirit of her era with such unparalleled technique but also such seeming effortlessness!
Cole Porter was one of the greatest songwriters of the first half of the twentieth century and his contribution is towering, but imagine his body of work without Ella Fitzgerald. It is impossible!
@Toyeminator
These songs and Ella never get old for me. Her clarity, excellent melody, and vocabulary/lyrics are everlasting.
@sarahdara1982
She’s absolutely magnificent, but you know this isn’t her song, and these aren’t her lyrics, right? The incomparable Cole Porter, one of the best songwriters and lyricists of all time, wrote this. This is from Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook, and the entire album is a masterpiece.
@rodnertylerduo4115
Isn't it obvious to you that the OP is commenting on Ella's articulation and enunciation, phrasing and execution, of the melody and lyrics? 😐😕
@bob-N4REE
So beautiful. The simplicity of an outstanding vocalist backed by only a quartet of instruments is so much better than some our modern jazz vocalists, who sounded great when they were starting with only a few instruments, but now feel the need for 40 piece orchestras. If you're really a great vocalist, you don't need to hide behind scores of strings and brass instruments.
@lakemichigan6598
Bob Easton No instrument in anyone's 40 piecer can improve upon Ella Fitzgerald's wonderful singing voice. Thank Heaven for the excellent recording technology of her era. What a crime it would have been had the enjoyment of her talent been restricted only to those lucky enough to have heard her live. And I agree. With a voice of Ella's timeless quality, reduce the orchestra to the bare essentials and turn up the volume on the vocalist.
@ralphgoodall3438
ELLA, what a voice. Pure class. Pure bliss. Great entertainment. Love her and choice of songs. A+++
@kalabanham
My story is much too 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 x2
@CBHS1962
No it does not get any better. Tone, phrasing, enunciation, interpretation, and timing are incomparable and faultless. Even Cole Porter himself remarked on her enunciation.
@MrCalavera10
Agreed.