Style
Frank Sinatra with Dean Martin & Bing Crosby Lyrics


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Look out!
You ready for this?

Who's that comin' down the thoroughfare
The sunshine flashin' on his ring
Bowin' left and right and here and there
That's Chester, the trombone king
He gets his shirts straight from Paris
Cigarettes from the Nile
He tallks like a 'eyebrow', but he plays Chicago style

He gets his shoes made in London
And they're real crocodile
But he plays trombone...Chicago style

And he sometimes plays sweet
Hup-toodle-oodle-oodle-dee-ooo
But sweet or hot, he's always got
That real gut-bucket beat

He's got a neat Latin moustache
And the girls love his smile
But he plays trombone...Chicago style
A trombone made in Newark
Played in Chicago style

Chicago style
Chicago style

He gets his neckties from Naples
And his socks from Argyle
Speaks Oxford English, but he plays Chicago style

Wears a stickpin from Rio, are you listenin'
You can see it for a mile
But he plays trombone...Chicago style

And he sometimes plays sweet
Uncle Jake's weary blues
But sweet or hot, he's always got
That real gut-bucket beat

He likes New York for the Opera
And gets two on the aisle
But he plays trombone...Chicago style
A trombone made in Newark
Played in Chicago style

Yes sir




Hey-hey
A trombone played Chicago style

Overall Meaning

The song "Style" by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby is a playful ode to the trombone king, Chester, who struts his stuff down the thoroughfare with pizzazz. The lyrics describe Chester's clothing and accessories, which he acquires from all over the world, but it's his music that sets him apart. Chester talks the talk like a sophisticated gentleman, but when he plays the trombone, he plays it in the Chicago style with a gut-bucket beat that captures the hearts of the ladies. The contrast between Chester's refined appearance and his down-to-earth music suggests that true style is not about what you wear or how you speak, but how you express yourself.


The lyrics of "Style" have a lighthearted tone that matches the swing music style of the song. The use of alliteration and playful rhymes, such as "eyebrow" and "Chicago style," add to the song's whimsy. The mention of different locations around the world where Chester gets his clothes and accessories creates an exotic atmosphere, while the constant emphasis on his trombone playing reminds us what truly matters. The song celebrates the joy of music and the spirit of individuality that makes us unique.


Line by Line Meaning

Look out!
Be alert and attentive, something interesting is coming up.


You ready for this?
Are you prepared for what's in store for you?


Who's that comin' down the thoroughfare
Who is that musical artist walking towards us?


The sunshine flashin' on his ring
The bright sunlight is reflecting off his ring.


Bowin' left and right and here and there
He nods his head graciously in every direction he looks.


That's Chester, the trombone king
That's Chester, who is the most significant person in the field of playing the trombone.


He gets his shirts straight from Paris
He purchases his shirts directly from a renowned fashion destination, Paris.


Cigarettes from the Nile
He sources his cigarettes from the banks of the longest river in the world, the Nile.


He tallks like a 'eyebrow', but he plays Chicago style
He speaks in a particular way, but he plays the trombone in a variety that originated from Chicago.


He gets his shoes made in London
He acquires his footwear made exclusively in the capital city of England, London.


And they're real crocodile
His shoes are made from the hide of crocodiles.


And he sometimes plays sweet
On some occasions, he plays his music in a soothing and pleasant manner.


Hup-toodle-oodle-oodle-dee-ooo
A jazzy tune to which he's playing an attractive melody.


But sweet or hot, he's always got
No matter how he plays, his music always has


That real gut-bucket beat
a feeling of passion and intensity in his music.


He's got a neat Latin moustache
He has a well-trimmed moustache with a Latin style.


And the girls love his smile
He holds a winning smile that attracts the girls around him.


A trombone made in Newark
His trombone is crafted in the city of Newark.


Played in Chicago style
He plays his trombone music in the style that had its origin in Chicago.


Chicago style
A rhythmic composition of music that came from the Chicago region.


He gets his neckties from Naples
He purchases his neckties from a famous Italian tourist spot, Naples.


And his socks from Argyle
He gets his socks branched from the Scottish fashion made famous by the Duke of Argyle.


Speaks Oxford English, but he plays Chicago style
Although he speaks a British dialect, he plays the trombone in an American-sounding style that originated in Chicago.


Wears a stickpin from Rio, are you listenin'
He adorns a thin, long pin on his dress that he brought from the municipality of Rio, Brazil.


You can see it for a mile
His stickpin is large enough to be seen from a distance of a mile.


Uncle Jake's weary blues
A tune he's playing called Uncle Jake's blues that portrays emotions of weariness and exhaustion.


He likes New York for the Opera
He has developed a liking for the music genre opera typically performed in New York.


And gets two on the aisle
He reserves two adjacent seats in the first row to watch an opera in New York City.


Yes sir
Absolutely yes!


Hey-hey
A cheerful greeting to someone he's happy to see.


A trombone played Chicago style
A trombone played in such a manner that the music style originates from the town of Chicago.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BURKE, VAN HEUSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ramsestapsi5283

Some people dress 'cause they like to get dressed;
But you just dress to get dressed.
It's only a hunch, but I bet you a bunch:
He wears suspenders, a belt, and a vest.
>From the tip of your toes to your head...
You look like an unmade bed.


You've either got, or you haven't got style;
If you got it, you stand out a mile.
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted;
A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.
You've either got, or you haven't got class;
How it draws the applause of the masses.

When you wear lapels...
Like the swell of the swells...
You can pass any mirror and smile.
You've either got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got style.

You've either got, or you haven't got style.
....got, or you haven't got style;
If you got it, you stand out a mile.
....got it, you stand out a mile.
With mother-of-pearl kind of buttons...
You look like the Astors and Huttons.

You've either got, or you haven't got class;
....got, or you haven't got class.
How it draws the applause of the masses.
When you wear lapels...
Like the swellest swells...
You can pass any mirror and smile.

You've either got, or you haven't got charm;
....got, or you haven't got charm.
Style and charm seem to go arm in arm;
....seem to go arm in arm.
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted;
A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.

You've either got, or you haven't got style;
....got, or you haven't got style;
....got, or you haven't got style.
If you got it, you stand out a mile;
....got it, you stand out a mile;
....got it, you stand out a mile.

When you were those duds,
Those with black-tie and studs,
Watch those dolls lining up single file.
You've either got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got style..



All comments from YouTube:

@chrisgray3195

My grandfather never wore a pair of jeans. Only once did I see him in a t-shirt and that was because he was shaving. He was an engineer by trade and always dressed in a suit. Even on his days off, he wore a suit.

@m.p.2534

Same thing for my grandfather (a train engineer). Nowadays, whenever my grandmother talks of him, she keeps saying he used to be the greatest and most dashing gentleman she ever knew. ^^

@Gueroleon83

My grandfather’s were the same.. one never wore a pair of shorts in his entire life. They always dressed in suites didn’t ever have a pair of sport shoes (sneakers).belt shoes hat all matched.. impeccable 👍

@thefreeman8791

My grandfather was a dairy farmer but on Sunday he dressed with the best. Men back then at least understood how to be classy even if they couldn’t be daily.

@leerusz5032

My Grandad always wore his Sunday best. Any time he went out, he’d wear a suit. He shaved every day, sometimes twice if he was going out that night. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 88. But right to very end he always tried to look his best.

@kailashpatel1706

My dad was a Tailor, never wore a pair of jeans and neither did any of his 3 children..

64 More Replies...

@joedayer9755

Crosby: wears fancy clothes

Sinatra: “you look like an unmade bed.”

@carltrotter7622

Crosby is breaking many style rules from wearing a frock coat to matching vest and trousers and contrasting jacket.

It is also mentioned in the song that he is wearing ‘suspenders a belt and a vest’. What is meant here is that you should never wear a belt with a vest as it makes creases at the bottom (despite the fact that Sinatra is wearing one but I’d blame that on poor tailoring from the wardrobe department) and that instead you should wear suspenders, never together because they wear the same thing.

Later on, as Crosby gets changed into various clown-ish outfits with over-the-top pieces matched together we can see these similar errors again but in a more extreme form.

@carltrotter7622

seaweedWorkers no, I’d be very worried if a 16 year old could become a teacher. Why do you ask dear fellow?

@Danadop

Nothing but the best is enough for him

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