I Should Care
Frank Sinatra & Axel Stordahl Lyrics
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I should care, I should go without sleeping
Strangely enough, I sleep well
Except for a dream or two
But then I count my sheep well
Funny how sheep can lull you to sleep
So I should care, I should let it upset me
Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you
But I should care and I do
I should care but it just doesn't get me
Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you
But I should care and I do
And I do
The lyrics to Frank Sinatra's "I Should Care" are a complex exploration of the difficulties of navigating the aftermath of a relationship. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer knows they should be feeling more upset than they are; they should be weeping and losing sleep over the lost love. However, they acknowledge that they are sleeping well, save for a dream or two, and even find comfort in the mundane task of counting sheep. The contradiction between what the singer should be feeling and what they are actually feeling sets the tone for the rest of the song.
Throughout the rest of the lyrics, the singer grapples with the fact that they should care about the loss of their love, but they don't. They acknowledge that they may never find someone as lovely as the person they lost, but even that sentiment doesn't elicit a stronger emotional response. The final line of the song, "And I do," suggests that despite the singer's assertion that they don't care, deep down, they do.
"I Should Care" showcases Frank Sinatra's emotional depth and ability to convey complex emotions through song. The lyrics are bolstered by Axel Stordahl's lush orchestration, which creates a dreamy, romantic atmosphere that complements the song's themes. Overall, "I Should Care" is a poignant meditation on the complexities of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I should care, I should go around weeping
I should be very upset and cry a lot
I should care, I should go without sleeping
I should not be able to sleep because I am so upset
Strangely enough, I sleep well
Oddly, I am able to sleep well despite the situation
Except for a dream or two
Except for a few dreams that bother me
But then I count my sheep well
But then I am able to fall asleep by counting sheep
Funny how sheep can lull you to sleep
It's amusing how counting sheep can help me fall asleep
I should care, I should let it upset me
I should allow myself to be upset and bothered by it
Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you
Perhaps I won't find someone as wonderful as you
But I should care and I do
But I should care about this situation, and I do
I should care but it just doesn't get me
I should be upset, but I am not
And I do
But I still care about it
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, HANOVER MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: AXEL STOHRDAHL, PAUL WESTON, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@henridelagardere264
I Should Care, and, yes, I do care, care about this great jazz standard and the bevy of beautiful artists who cared for it, too. We've got to care, we're human after all, and we care more for Frank with every passing year. 29-year old Frank, can you imagine? Still a good half-century to go.
@Trombonology
Frank employed the approach of singing behind the beat more effectively than any singer I can summon. This device, as we can hear, is very powerful on a slow, romantic number like this gem, as it spurs a sense of suspense or anticipation. Of course, the thing that gave Frank's phrasing its organic quality is that he didn't always sing behind the beat -- he mixed it up, going ahead sometimes, which lends an urgent quality to certain lines; in short, it sounds as if he's experiencing the emotions of the lyrics in real time. Cahn, Stordahl and Weston -- the latter two friends from their days on the T. Dorsey band arranging staff -- collaborated on another beauty in '45, "Day By Day," also interpreted masterfully by Sinatra.
@swingman5635
It was tunes like this, that set the bobby soxers to swooning. "The Voice", certainly had a way with a romantic song. Axel's arrangements didn't hurt,either.
@schudan3617
what a nice music!
@lrn_news9171
Young Sinatra best Sinatra.
@hestheMaster
Skinny Sinatra had the young girls swooning to music like this back then.
@christinesmith5031
A beautiful song and Frank's best. 😎
@ladycavalier
Thank you for literally every Sinatra recording you put out there lol
@antoniomanuel1855
Good genial
@toronado455
Phenomenal arrangement and recording!