She is noted for her elegant interpretations of standards, ballads, and blues. Her characteristic inflections have sometimes prompted comparisons to stylistic devices employed by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Jones' recordings, particularly her debut record (Don't Go To Strangers, 1960), have earned wide admiration in a new generation of listeners.
She had three Grammy nominations, for the Don't Go to Strangers LP in 1960, Save Your Love for Me in 1981, and My Buddy in 1999.
Jones had a musical partnership of more than thirty years with tenor sax player Houston Person, who received equal billing with her. He also produced her albums and served as her manager.
Jones was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem. She died at the age of 72 from cancer. She was survived by her husband, John Medlock, and a granddaughter.
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Etta Jones Lyrics
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I'd be a beggar or a knave for you! (what is a knave anyway?)
If that isn't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I'd gladly move the earth for you, (yeah I'm strong baby, plenty strong)
To prove my love and it's worth to you;
If that isn't love it'll have to do
With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand;
I'll always love you darling, come what may,
My heart is yours, what more can I say? (what do you want me to do, rob a bank?)
(Well listen, I tell ya)
I'd sigh for you, yeah, cry for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you!
If that isn't love, well skip it, it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.
I'd sigh for you, die for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you!
If that isn't love, it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.
(Yeah, that's the real thing, so help me!)
The lyrics to Etta Jones's song "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" depict a person who is willing to go to great lengths to prove their affection for someone else. The singer declares that they would work, slave, beg, or even become a knave for the person they love. They are willing to move the earth to show that their love is worth the effort. The singer acknowledges that their love may not be enough, but they will settle for their current situation until they can find the "real thing." The singer is frustrated that they cannot seem to find the words to make their beloved understand the depth of their love. Despite this, the singer promises to always love the other person, willing to do anything for them, even tear the stars down from the sky.
The song highlights the idea of unrequited love and the lengths a person will go to for someone who may not reciprocate those feelings. It also touches on the idea that sometimes, love may not be enough, and the search for the "real thing" is necessary to find true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I'd work for you, I'd slave for you,
I'd be a beggar or a knave for you! (what is a knave anyway?)
If that isn't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I'm willing to do anything for you, even degrade myself in society - that's how much I love you. It may not be the ideal type of love, but it'll have to do until we find what we're looking for.
I'd gladly move the earth for you, (yeah I'm strong baby, plenty strong)
To prove my love and it's worth to you;
If that isn't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I'm willing to go to great lengths to show you how much you mean to me. This type of love may not be perfect, but we'll stick to it for now until we find the right kind of love.
With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand;
I'll always love you darling, come what may,
My heart is yours, what more can I say? (what do you want me to do, rob a bank?)
I have all the right words to express my love for you, but you just don't seem to get it. Regardless, I will always love you no matter what happens, and my heart belongs to you entirely.
(Well listen, I tell ya)
I'd sigh for you, yeah, cry for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you!
If that isn't love, well skip it, it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.
I would do anything, even the impossible, just to make you happy. If this type of love isn't enough, then we'll have to keep searching until we find the true love we're looking for.
I'd sigh for you, die for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you!
If that isn't love, it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.
(Yeah, that's the real thing, so help me!)
I am so devoted to you that I would sacrifice everything for you, including my life. If this isn't real love, then we'll keep searching until we find it. And when we do find it, I'll know it's the real thing.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, IMAGEM U.S. LLC , Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert D
Etta Jones brings it all home. She puts me in mind of Freddy Cole, both consummate jazz singers who wring every drop out of every note and every emotion out of every phrase.
Nadine Emma COHEN
The very great Etta Jones and much underrated !