One For My Baby
Frank Sinatra with the Red Norvo Quintet Lyrics


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It's quarter to three
There's no-one in the place
'Cept You and me.
So set 'em up Joe,
I've 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, and one more
For the road

I've got the routine
Put another nickel in the machine
I'm feeling so bad
Can't you make the music easy and sad
I could tell you a lot
But you've gotta be true to your code
Just 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 got a lot of things I'd like to say
So when I'm gloomy, won't you listen to me
'Til it's talked away
Well, that's how it goes

And Joe I know you're getting anxious to close
And thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind my bending your ear
But this touch that I've found
Must be drowned or it soon might explode
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
The long
It's so long




The long
Very long

Overall Meaning

One for My Baby is a classic Frank Sinatra song that was released in 1958 with the Red Norvo Quintet. The lyrics depict a lonely and desolate atmosphere in which the singer is spending time with just the bartender at the bar, and they're drinking to the end of a "brief episode." The singer goes on to ask the bartender, Joe, to "make it one for my baby," while he tells him a story, and then asks for one more "for the road."
The singer then proceeds to talk about how he feels hopeless and lost, and the music he's listening to doesn't do much to relieve his sadness. He goes on to say that he could tell Joe a lot, but he needs to stay true to his code as a bartender and keep his secrets. The singer insists that he's a poet and has a lot to say; that's why he's talking to Joe. The song goes on to show appreciation for Joe's company and for listening to his troubles. The singer wants to drown the touch he's found so he can leave feeling content, and not explode with emotions. Hence, the last request for one more drink.


The song is a quintessential example of a depressing, slow, and soulful tune, and the piano arrangement complements the lyrics perfectly. Sinatra's voice, filled with emotion, adds to the overall melancholic tone of the song. Sinatra himself loved this song and considered it one of his favorites.


Line by Line Meaning

It's quarter to three
It's late at night and the bar is almost empty


There's no-one in the place
The bar is almost empty


'Cept You and me.
Except for us, there is no one else around


So set 'em up Joe,
Joe, the bartender is being asked to pour another drink


I've got a little story
The artist has a story to tell


I think you should know
The singer would like to share the story with Joe


We're drinking my friend,
The singer and Joe are having a drink


To the end of a brief episode
They are giving a toast to the end of a short period of time or event


Make it one for my baby, and one more
They are asking for two drinks, one for the artist's friend and one for the road


I've got the routine
The artist is referring to his habit of drinking when feeling down


Put another nickel in the machine
They are asking Joe to put a coin in the jukebox to play music


I'm feeling so bad
The artist is feeling sad and depressed


Can't you make the music easy and sad
The singer wants to listen to sad music that he can relate to


I could tell you a lot
The singer has a lot of things to say


But you've gotta be true to your code
The singer wants Joe to keep his duty as a bartender and not interfere with his personal problems


Just make it one for my baby, and one more
The artist asks for one more drink for his friend and another for the road


You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
The artist is a poet, but it's not immediately obvious


And I got a lot of things I'd like to say
The singer has many thoughts and feelings he wants to express


So when I'm gloomy, won't you listen to me
The singer asks Joe to listen to him when he is feeling down


'Til it's talked away
Talking to Joe helps the artist feel better and forget his problems


Well, that's how it goes
This is how the artist's life goes; drinking and talking to the bartender to forget his problems


And Joe I know you're getting anxious to close
The artist understands that Joe wants to close the bar and go home


And thanks for the cheer
The singer thanks Joe for being a good listener and making him feel better


I hope you didn't mind my bending your ear
The artist hopes he didn't annoy Joe by talking to him for so long


But this touch that I've found
The singer has found something special


Must be drowned or it soon might explode
The singer is referring to his emotions, which he wants to drown in alcohol before they become too overwhelming


So make it one for my baby
The singer wants another drink for his friend


And one more for the road
The artist wants one more drink for himself before he leaves and faces his problems once again


The long
A pause in the song


It's so long
The pause is long and feels never-ending


The long
Another pause in the song


Very long
The second pause is even longer and more pronounced




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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