Love for Sale
Ella Fitzgerald Buddy Bregman Orchestra Lyrics

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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, 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, love for sale, love for sale

Overall Meaning

The song "Love For Sale" is a classic jazz tune that speaks of prostitution and the selling of love. The opening lines set the stage for the setting of the story, where the only sound heard is that of a lonesome cop. This is a clear indication that we are in the heart of the city, and it's the only place where the business of love thrives. The moon is portrayed as having a disapproving smirk on her face as she gazes down on the wayward ways of the town. The singer then sings of the trade that goes on in the city - love for sale. She speaks of appetizing young love that is fresh and still unspoiled, despite being only slightly soiled. The singer then asks who will buy the love on offer and who is prepared to pay the price for it. The lyrics then move to the middle section of the song, where she dismisses the poets' simplistic views of love and boasts of her experience in every type of love, except true love. She repeats the chorus, reminding us of the nature of the business she is in.

The song uses clever wordplay to describe the sale of love as if it were a commodity in a shop that the singer runs. The lyrics draw a comparison between love and a product that can be bought and sold. It is interesting to note that the song was written in 1930, a time when prostitution was rampant in major cities. In contrast, today's listeners would likely find the lyrics shocking because of the graphic imagery they evoke. The song's success is undoubtedly due to Fitzgerald's powerful vocals and the clever lyrics that speak of a darker side to life. It's a great reminder that jazz music was used in protests against social injustices and was not only a source of entertainment.

Line by Line Meaning

When the only sound in the empty street
When there is complete silence in the deserted street

Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
The only sound heard is the loud footsteps of a lonely policeman

That belong to a lonesome cop, I open shop
In the presence of the lonely cop, the singer starts selling something

When the moon so long has been gazing down
After the moon has been shining down for a long time

On the wayward ways of this wayward town
On the behavior of this unpredictable town

That her smile becomes a smirk, I go to work
When the town starts to seem worse, the singer starts working

Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale
The singer is selling love, promising it's interesting and desirable

Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
The love being sold is new and hasn't been damaged

Love that's only slightly soiled, love for sale
The love being sold may have a few stains but is still attractive

Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
The artist is asking for customers to try what they are selling

Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
The singer is questioning whether customers are willing to pay the cost for a wonderful experience

Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
The artist acknowledges that poets talk of love in a naive manner

I know every type of love better far than they
The singer claims to have experienced various types of love more than the poets could ever understand

If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
The singer is offering firsthand knowledge and expertise when it comes to the excitement of love

Old love, new love, every love but true love
The singer has experienced numerous forms of love, except for true love

If you want to buy my wares, follow me and climb the stairs
The artist is requesting potential customers to follow them to purchase what they are selling

Love for sale, love for sale, love for sale
The artist is repeating the fact that they are selling love

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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