Love For Sale
Ella Fitzgerald ( track dates) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I go to work

Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that`s fresh and still unspoiled
Love that`s only slightly soiled

Love for sale
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who`s prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I`ve been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true love, love for sale

Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I`ve been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true love, love for sale

Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale

Oh, love for sale
Love for sale

Overall Meaning

The song "Love For Sale" by Ella Fitzgerald is a powerful critique of the commodification of love, specifically the way that love is bought and sold like any other good or service. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world where love has been reduced to a mere commodity, with the singer acting as a sort of love merchant, offering up different types of love for sale to anyone willing to pay the price.

The first two verses describe a world where the only sounds are those of an empty street and a lonesome cop's heavy footsteps. This imagery emphasizes the loneliness and isolation of the people in this world, and sets the stage for the entrance of the singer, who appears as a sort of savior or solution to this isolation. The chorus then declares the availability of "appetizing young love for sale", as well as other types of love that are only "slightly soiled", and the singer invites potential buyers to "follow me and climb the stairs". In this way, the singer is offering a way out of the loneliness and isolation of this world, but only for those who can afford to pay for it.

The final verse brings the critique full circle, repeating the idea that the singer knows "every type of love better far than" the poets who "pipe of love in their childish way", but also acknowledging that the kinds of love for sale are all "old love, new love, every love but true love". In this way, the song is a damning indictment of the way that modern society has reduced love to a mere commodity, and suggests that true love is something that cannot be bought or sold.

Line by Line Meaning

When the only sound in the empty street
The street is lonely, and no one is around.

Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
The only thing that can be heard is the loud footsteps of a solitary cop.

That belongs to a lonesome cop
The cop is alone, and his life is lonely.

I open shop
I start doing business when there is no one else around to see or hear me.

When the moon so long has been gazing down
The moon has been shining for a long time now.

On the wayward ways of this wayward town
The town is filled with people who don't follow the rules.

That her smile becomes a smirk
The moon's smile turned into a smirk because the town is reckless.

I go to work
I start doing the things I shouldn't be doing.

Love for sale
I am selling love.

Appetizing young love for sale
I am selling love that is young and attractive.

Love that`s fresh and still unspoiled
I am selling love that hasn't been used or ruined yet.

Love that`s only slightly soiled
I am selling love that has been used a little bit, but not too much.

Love for sale
I am still selling love.

Who will buy?
Who wants to buy my love?

Who would like to sample my supply?
Who wants to try what I am selling?

Who`s prepared to pay the price
Who is willing to pay the cost?

For a trip to paradise?
For a chance to experience something blissful?

Love for sale
I am still selling love.

Let the poets pipe of love
The poets can write about love if they want.

In their childish way
But they don't know as much about love as I do.

I know every type of love
I have experienced all kinds of love.

Better far than they
Much better than the poets who try to describe it.

If you want the thrill of love
If you want to feel passionate about love.

I`ve been through the mill of love
I have been through many ups and downs of love.

Old love, new love
I have experienced love that is old and love that is new.

Every love but true love, love for sale
I have felt all kinds of love except for true love, which I am still selling.

Appetizing young love for sale
I am still selling young and attractive love.

If you want to buy my wares
If you want to buy what I am selling.

Follow me and climb the stairs
Come with me and go up the stairs to where I am selling my love.

Love for sale
I am still selling love.

Oh, love for sale
Once again: I am selling love.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@kony_natasha

3y↑1

When the only sound in the empty street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belongs to a lonesome cop
I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town
That her smile becomes a smirk,
I go to work.
Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly spoiled
Love for sale
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale.
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the trill of love,
I've been through the mill of love,
Old love, new love,
Every love but true love.
Love for sale.

@estheroluwalowo5792

6y↑12

When the only sound in the empty street,
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
I open shop.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town.
That her smile becomes a smirk,
I go to work.

Love for sale,
Appetising young love for sale.
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled,
Love that's only slightly soiled,
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price,
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
in their childish way,
I know every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love,
I've been through the mill of love;
Old love, new love
Every love but true love
Love for sale.

Appetising young love for sale.
If you want to buy my wares.
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale.
Love for sale.

All comments from YouTube:

@Tavinho74

7y↑26

No one can outshine this! Ella, the best!

@dernup73

12y↑61

Doesn't get any better than Ella!

@scotnick59

1y↑1

NEVER!

@brahmburgers

6y↑18

Excellent vocals by Ella, and great song by Cole Porter.

@bradhuskers

3y↑4

Actually? When an artist breathes life into lyrics light years above what the Actual songwriter could never even imagine, Ella Fitzgerald owns the song.
The creative process isn't just the silent words on paper.
An artist breathes soul and life into them in a recording studio.

@boobookittifukk

8y↑87

Still my favourite female voice of all time.

@MsKoalababy

8y↑4

Same to me. And I have some CDs from her.

@mja91352

7y↑5

No question. She was the best.

@kale8133

Hands down.

@relatedzzz

boobookittifukk reasonable

@asfawa3802

2y↑6

A voice to live for.

@robingray9101

6y↑18

I'm very thankful to have seen Ella twice, live in Belfast,in the 60's .She was with out doubt the greatest singer of all time.

@spark_6710

5y↑2

Robin Gray I totally agree!!! I was so lucky to see her at Louie Armstrong's concert in Japan! They were the very best & still ARE!!!

@Mr22thou

27w

How fortunate indeed! By the time I woke up to how great she was, she had recently retired due to having lost both legs to diabetes. So sad. However she left an incredible wealth of recorded material. A quick search revealed she recorded over 2000 songs. Incredible!

@wayneturner6179

4y↑55

This is truly the definitive version of the song, mainly because it includes the into that Cole Porter wrote to go with it, leaving no doubt what the song is actually about. Ella's superb voice and style captures its essence perfectly.

@gynack

4y↑1

Wayne Turner
Ella's own best version as well. She also recorded it with Joe Pass, but it's definitely not so good as this. As you say, this is absolutely the definitive version.

@lennonturney7343

I like Vivian Green's better, not dissing the First Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWMdcsWujZ8

@bstr-ey6wl

2y↑1

‘definitive’ sounds totalitarian...

@robertc8134

Ella is the best vocalist I've ever heard. Such precise intonation and phrasing... and this song was copyrighted in 1930! 92 years ago, when musicians were able to sight-read, transpose on the fly, improvise, etc.
Let's see any modern "musical artist" top this!

@ComptonianTales

7y↑16

Lord, what a beautiful voice!

@sirfermainclancharlie1018

2y↑4

The quality of her recital are no. 1. Such an accomplished and finished work. No one is like Ella. And was.

@yvetterichardson6951

37w↑1

First time hearing this song last week. Discovering Ella's music. Love it!

@Jackiedion

2y↑3

Ella's voice is TIMLESS! what an ICON!

@rizmid

4y↑4

Excellent version! And always an evergreen song!!

@carloseduarte6577

2y↑3

Fabulous phrasing brings out the best of amazing lyrics. Cole Porter master songwriter; Ella master singer.

@CarlosAguilar-vn6sp

6y↑7

Excellent singer at the top of her game!

@iancurtis6490

1y↑2

She won her first competition at age 14 and was adopted by Chick Webb. Her covers of the American Songbooks let the world know how great American music was included the songwriters themselves.

@lowellthomasjr.468

9y↑13

What a great version of a great song !

@darylmichael7

6y↑4

Smooth voice. Smooth arrangement. Excellent

@spydrmac4010

6y↑15

Wow...her voice is so silky smooth. Jealous? Heck yeah! I'd love to be able to sound like Ella but even more than that, I wish I had been around to see her sing this joint in person. Due to my musical tastes, I've been told on many occasions that I was just born too late. I prefer to think I was around back in the day but "fell victim to jazz and liquor"! I'm just rediscovering the grand music of my past life!

@stevekallaugher2325

4y↑1

Good on you, Spydr Mac. If you really love music, you go back to find out where it came from and find wonders.

I don't mean to make you more jealous, but I finally got to see her in one of her last concerts, a month before she passed. She sang this.

BTW: You didn't fall victim to jazz and liquor. You discovered them.

@rndytb2012

8y↑6

Excelente.Nota 10.

@carlyryan4439

51w

Ella Fitzgerald is a gem! She's a pure angel!

@BegoneJonah

7y↑23

I love Julie London's version of this song, but I must admit that this is the definitive one. I like that she sings the introduction and.. well.. Ella.

@spark_6710

5y↑1

Wes Clark julie London " cry me a river " was her best work! But since you mentioned it, I'll check it out! Thanks!

@robertrhoden8392

4y↑1

Try Carmen Lundy version too

@gynack

@Spark _
Ella's version of that beats Julie's as well. However, Julie's version fitted absolutely perfectly in that great scene in the film "The Girl Can't Help It". My hormones went crazy when I saw that at just about 14 years old. I'd only gone to see the film because Little Richard and Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps were in it, and it was supposed to be to do with Rock'n'Roll. That scene left a far more lasting impression on me than any thing else. In fact, I canna mind at all how Little Richard or Gene Vincent appeared in the film, but I still clearly mind that Julie London scene and the song.

@scotnick59

You meant the excellent "verse"

@ckatkit5775

3y↑1

So soothing 💖💕

@marshallwilliams3531

2y↑3

Wow I loved this song for over 20 years but I've only heard the faster version. This is the first time I've heard Ella Fitzgerald's version and I'm only just realizing what the song is about. I'm mind blown!!

@farokudahitam

🤣😂🤣😂😂

@germanaperitore6040

8y↑15

Straordinaria, magnifica Ella!

@diamondlife1897

9y↑35

This song inspired Sade's writing of the song, "Smooth Operator". Coast to coast L.A. to Chicago, western male, across the north and south to Key Largo, LOVE FOR SALE. In "Smooth Operator" the "love for sale" part was sung with the same cadence. Also she had mentioned that Ella is one of her favorite singers.

@SuperPaola1963

9y↑11

Wonderful singer!

@artieharris2103

7y↑8

ella was like no other and there never will be another like her.

@evertvanderhik5774

5y↑4

As a fan of instrumental Jazz music I never cared about vocals, but hell what is this good!

@MS-ux2hr

5y↑1

Do you know an instrumental version of this song ? I'm sure I've heard it somewhere with incredible violins on it.

@evertvanderhik5774

5y↑1

@Marc S i know the Chet Baker version from live at Ronnie Scott's but it is totally different

@MS-ux2hr

@Evert Van Der Hik I know this one , pretty good isn't it ? Love cher Baker

@johnthrelfall5

5y↑3

Thankyou! What a quality recording!

@khussein6409

AWESOME!

@ericjohnson7805

1y↑1

They couldn’t ever in my opinion get any of these singers to do her biopic. There is only one Ella, PERIOD!

@margaretdavis2843

49w

One of all time greats!!!!!!!!!!!!

@77CHArts

9y↑16

Ella is still the greatest.

@MsKoalababy

Yes - among others (also Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra... they're also great :-)!)

@mja91352

7y↑2

Yes, Armstrong was great, the others were pretty good ... but as Charlotte said, Ella was the BEST

@BegoneJonah

Perfect phrasing, perfect tonality, perfect vibrato, perfect sustain. She was indeed amazing.

@spark_6710

Ella & Louie were & are the very best!!! Nobody comes close!

@andrepranger3418

4y↑1

...so great!❤️

@michaelhoey9668

2y↑1

I LISTENED TO HER SONGS ALL THE TIME IN MY YOUTH

@turibinosanches4692

6y↑6

Delicious, beautiful voice and music...

@lipingfeng

fantastic job from ella f. subtle, mysterious, and deadly. " ... love that is slightly soiled. ... who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise? ... old love, new love, every love but true love ..."

@tuxguys

7y↑18

(4/25/17)
Happy Hundredth, Miss Ella.
Cole Porter's musical paean to the Oldest Profession, performed impeccably by Ella, arranged by Buddy Bregman, produced by Norman Granz.
This is from "The Cole Porter Songbook," released on brand-new record label Verve (the first release on Verve, in fact), the first of eight such "Songbook" recordings (nine, if you count the "Jobim Songbook" she recorded in the '70's on Pablo). These recordings created the concept of "The American Songbook," which every singer, aspiring or established, has to wrestle with.
(This extremely musically-sophisticated, extremely lyrically-risque musical meditation, from the point of view of a Working Girl, was written in 1930.)

@MsKoalababy

8y↑11

Very nice song - I like all songs from E. Fizgerald :-) !

@donnaglick8522

6y↑2

Wow!!! GREAT SONG!!!!

@wilpri

All his songs are wonderful.

@theemmjay5130

You wouldn't think a song about being a "lady of the evening" would be so affecting, but when it's Ella Fitzgerald singing Cole Porter, how could it be otherwise?

@poetcomic1

50w

Needn't ask what this song is about! It is just amazing that this became a classic of 'the American Songbook' WAY back in 1930!

@RobertSummers-gi4dr

38w

What expression! She could sing the phone book and sell it!

@Wixom2200

3y↑3

Cole Porter brilliant writer. Cats like him Duke Ellington, Gershwin's, Jerome Kern and Monk geniuses along with Louis Armstrong geniuses!

@wednesdaychild1156

7y↑2

fantastic music along with beautiful lyric , ella sang and brought this song alive. well done. equally sang well are dinah washington , billie holliday ,as well as kd lang ,too. all my favourite cd collections. tks for sharing.

@kony_natasha

3y↑1

@LM-mn7ll

2y↑4

I just listened to Lady Gaga's performance of this number with Tony Bennett, While I loved hearing them collaborate on other songs, it felt like Gaga just butchered this song by turning it into scherzo, shallow bebop anthem & totally missed the grief & disillusionment that Ella and Billie Holiday capture so beautifully.

@aidancharles8801

7y↑3

so soulful x

@manuelfajardo5530

5y↑1

Ella was the best of the best

@NickiTingz

3y↑5

Can’t wait for this with Gaga’s vocals. #loveforsale #gagatony

@MsKoalababy

8y↑1

I also like the newer version from Boney M.
But the originals are always the best.

@freddymclain

2y↑1

god what a song!

@LINUSTUDIO

3y↑24

'One Last Time' is such a sad title for Gaga x Tony's new performance 😭😭😭

@buti0825

6y↑1

最高！！！

@licketiethugg

4y↑2

The song is so tragic and touching.

@zaitsevgo

7y↑4

обожаю!

@rosecradle8

6y↑5

I think this song is about Cole Porter himself. Love is his sheet music. And shop is his piano.

@michellenguyen7747

Came here from Miki Matsubara's version - love both!! <3 rip both of them...

@michaelwall4022

7y↑11

OMGoodness, I came here because someone mentioned Cole Porter. I didn't remember how good Ella was.

@gynack

4y↑2

Michael Wall
That's a terrible admission to be making!

@inkoinfinity2

3y↑1

@Trevor Morris indeed but I forgive him

@xavbs1

Best song ever

@karta2641396

3y↑4

Gaga❤️❤️i can't wait

@emil-pelz

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍

@m4k488

4y↑1

why this shit go hard?

@privatekas

7y↑15

This Is Art By The First Lady of song Miss Ella Fitzgerald

@bearspencer

Love Ella. But Billie Holiday had the advantage of watching the lyrics play out nightly. Listen to her version and you'll love it at least as well.

@estheroluwalowo5792

6y↑12

@JohnathandosSantos

Never knew that song was about prostitution....

@BronxBornBroad

8y↑7

WOW!!!!!

@hathor1985

34w

Yes, love is for sale, it's the "software" whereupon all companies are running;
the old commercial slogan: "satisfied customers are the best clients" is still working perfectly.

@dskywalker3397

2y↑2

Wow!

@isammolina4842

4y↑1

La mejor es Kitty Kallen.ELLA es unica...pero esta cancion va mas rapidito.👀🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃

@puppylove2493

Gaga wishes she could sing half as good as Ella.

@troyaccola7328

3y↑15

Who’s here because of Gaga’s instagram post

@AverageUser69

3y↑5

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett rocks this song like every other jazz songs as usual.

@maynardewm

Who was the bass player on this? Their sense of time is intoxicating

@lucasc.vieira

3y↑38

Will be perfect with the Gaga vocals

@ec8687

It’s going to so good!

@stephenmorrissey8950

3y↑7

@E C Sadly Bennet is a shadow of his former self. The Gaga Bennet collaboration is nice in a sentimental way, but its not in the same galaxy as Ella Fitzgerald.

@b.olivera885

2y↑7

We have to stop this stupid comparison. Gaga took singing lessons. Ella is a born singer.

@bradhuskers

2y↑6

@B. Olivera
109% correct
Gaga is good but Ella Fitzgerald is light years better

@bradhuskers

2y↑2

@stephen Morrissey
100% correct.
Gaga is nice.
But Ella is light years better.
Not even close.

4 More Replies...

@dougward4581

6y↑18

How did Cole Porter get away with a song about prostitution in that day and age ? I'm glad he did !

@elia.0713

Doug Ward huh?

@deepindercheema4917

5y↑1

@elia .07 If you listen to Jane Birkin's version from the 1970s you can feel the hookers lament, totally void here.

@johnthrelfall5

@Deepinder Cheema Interesting comment Deepinder , thanks for the reference. I think Ella was standing back from involvement , but the lyrics still conveyed the lament , and they also painted a picture of an earlier era. I think the recording was a very good one , but I'm now going to look for Jane Birkin's version!

@johnthrelfall5

@Deepinder Cheema I just had a listen to Jane Birkin's version . Wow , totally different approach with the voice and the funk band! Very good!

@deepindercheema4917

5y↑1

@John Threlfall Many thanks for checking her out. She understands the lyric. In 1985 she made a film of the song in the doc about her life in song by Mike Mansfield in a series called Ladybirds. It really was follow me and climb the stairs.

9 More Replies...

@carltonboyd1609

7y↑6

classic

@Diamarlena7

6y↑1

Kids in my class say this music is terrible at least I like classics

@Yugvijay

@M Arriaga dont hang out with them hehe

@HerSunHisMoon91

4y↑1

I’ve been through the mill of love...

@salimcardine

I've got every love but true love

@LaloRojasSax

6y↑1

Adorable...

@devinramos6317

4y↑6

Marlyn Monroe’s favorite singer ! Mine to ♥️💋

@hakdog3670

3y↑7

I'm here because of Lady Gaga's new Jazz album titled love for sale

@BigG1691

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@5stargameswemakegamesyoupl799

8y↑8

every song ever is made by ella fitzjerald

@natemitchell3168

...ok

@marshallborges9606

...?

@ck-wg2hm

5y↑3

5:20 mine god what is this - it gives me feelings couldn´t descibe

@frinmiofficial354

3y↑4

Love for Gaga

@danielboruvka5043

3y↑3

Tony&Gaga album is coming October 1st<3

@debyoung6542

8y↑3

Favorite

@foratti

8y↑30

this is singing, what they do is scream today

@brahmburgers

6y↑2

....and shout.

@LanziBen

4y↑6

Federico Mastrangelo Ok boomer

@YourMom-rn2cv

Ok boomer

@koby_in_renaissance

3y↑13

GAGA GAGA GAGA

@jean-michelprillieux5012

6y↑1

Cette mélodie est signée Cole Porter.

@mrh9537

3y↑6

gagaaaa

@Borsalino10

De viejo quiero ser pervertido.

@jean-michelprillieux5012

Amour à vendre (love for sale). J'ai beaucoup acheté...

@peppende

5y↑2

Ma chi sono gli idioti che mettono pollice verso su un brano simile?

@adrichmd

7y↑7

Nothing like it anywhere

@marekklucznik1703

6y↑2

ellai coll porter the best

@romanperfilov8563

@vemg

3y↑1

Im here because of Clark Griswold. National Lampoons Vacation

@_b_e_a_n_s_

POV: you work at olive garden

Load More Comments...

More Comments

just now