Love For Sale
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics of "Love For Sale" describe a very particular type of transaction; the sale of love. The song paints the image of a town "wayward" and corrupt, where the only person on the street is a lonely cop. It is within this setting that the singer announces that they are open for business, advertising "appetizing young love for sale". The song then goes on to describe the qualities of the love on offer - fresh, unspoiled, and only slightly soiled - indicating that though it is a product for sale, it is still desirable and attractive.
The singer then challenges the societal norms around love, suggesting that poets may have their childish notions of love, but they, as the seller of love, knows every type of love better than they do. The lyrics turn darker as the singer reveals that they have been through the mill of love, but have never found true love - this suggests that the product for sale is not a genuine expression of love, but rather a facade created to satisfy a specific demand. The song concludes with a reiteration of the product for sale and an invitation to follow the singer to purchase.
Overall, "Love For Sale" is a commentary on desperation and loneliness, with a sinister edge that suggests that the love on offer is not an authentic emotion but rather a commodity to be bought and sold. The lyrics challenge societal norms and expectations around love and relationships, forcing listeners to question whether the transactional nature of love is a reality we have created or if it is something inherently flawed in human interpretation of love.
Line by Line Meaning
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 desolate streets have only the sound of a solitary cop’s footsteps, I start my business
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
When the moon has watched over this crooked town for a long time, till her grin turns into a grin, I commence my trade
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
Love is for sale. It is fresh and untouched or only a bit used. Who’s interested? Sense the exotic delight of it all! Who's ready to pay the value for the journey to heaven?
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
Leave the poets to extol their juvenile descriptions of love; I have an incomparable understanding of the many forms of love. If you desire the excitement of love, I’ve been there and have seen everything from old firm loves, to first loves, to every love that isn’t true love.
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Impeccable, palatable love for sale. If you want to buy it, come with me to my place and go upstairs. Love is for sale!
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oleksandr Sinitsyn
Ella has always been the one and only.
Trevor Morris
Very well done , of course, but Ella is more intent on melodic improvisation in this version. Her older version from her Cole Porter album really delivers the lyrics and intent of the song better than this, and every other, version I've ever heard. The accompaniment on that version also omplements and adds a lot to the total impact of it.
Blake Jiang
good comping