One For My Baby
Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know
We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
I know the routine, put another nickel
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
The song "One For My Baby" by Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra is a melancholic tune about a man drowning his sorrows in a bar late at night. The song starts with the line "It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place, except you and me" setting the mood for a lonely atmosphere. The singer then requests the bartender, Joe, to pour him another drink and tells him a little story that he thinks he should know. He raises his glass to toast the end of a brief episode and asks for "one for my baby and one more for the road".
The meaning behind the lyrics is that the singer is going through a difficult phase in his life and is trying to forget his problems, albeit unsuccessfully. He mentions that he is a "kind of poet" and that he has a lot of things he would like to say, but he is feeling gloomy and melancholic. Therefore, he requests Joe to play some easy and sad music, and the singer then goes on to talk about his torch (his pain) that he has found and wants to drown it, or it will explode.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. Mercer, who was a renowned lyricist, wrote the lyrics in less than an hour while he was waiting for Arlen to pick him up for a dinner appointment. Another interesting fact about the song is that it was featured in the movie "The Man with the Golden Arm" and was performed by Kim Novak in the film. Additionally, the song has been covered by various artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Iggy Pop.
Chords: F7, Bb7, Dm7, Gm7, C7, F7, Ebdim7, Dm7b5, G7, Cm7, F7
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's almost three in the morning and there's nobody else in the bar.
Except you and me
It's just the bartender and me.
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
Bartender, pour me a drink and listen to my tale.
I think you should know
I want to share something important with you.
We're drinking my friend, to the end
We're drinking together, to the end of something.
Of a brief episode
Of a short and fleeting moment.
Make it one for my baby
Pour me one drink for someone I miss.
And one more for the road
Pour me another drink for the journey ahead.
I know the routine, put another nickel
I know the drill, put another coin in the jukebox.
In the machine
So we can hear some music.
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
I feel sad and I want the music to reflect that.
Easy and sad
Slow and melancholic.
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
I have many stories to tell, but they are not appropriate.
In a gentleman's code
Out of respect and discretion.
Make it one for my baby
Pour me one drink for someone I miss.
And one more for the road
Pour me another drink for the journey ahead.
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
You might not expect it, but I'm actually a bit of a poet.
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
I have many thoughts and emotions I want to express.
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
And if I'm feeling down, please hear me out.
Till it's talked away
Until my sorrows are talked out.
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
That's how it is, and I know you're ready to close up.
Anxious to close
Eager to leave and go home.
Thanks for the cheer
Thanks for being a good listener and providing comfort.
I hope you didn't mind
I hope it wasn't a burden to listen to me.
My bending your ear
My talking your ear off.
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
But this burning love I have, I need to extinguish.
Or it's gonna explode
Or my emotions will become too much to handle.
Make it one for my baby
Pour me a drink for someone I love and miss.
And one more for the road
Pour me another drink for the journey ahead.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind