In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").
Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)
After You Who?
Fred Astaire Lyrics
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That at last you came my way,
There's no further use concealing
That I'm feeling far from gay,
For the rare allure about you
Makes me all the plainer see
How inane, how vain, how empty life without you would be.
Could supply my sky of blue?
After you, who
Could I love?
After you, why
Should I take the time to try,
For who else could qualify
After you, who?
Hold my hand and swear
You'll never cease to care,
For without you there what could I do?
I could search years
But who else could change my tears
Into laughter after you?
The song "After You Who?" by Fred Astaire is about a person who has finally found love in their life, but at the same time, they are afraid that they might lose it. The person appreciates their newfound love and is grateful for it, but they are also aware that without it, their life would be empty and meaningless. They express their fear of losing their loved one, acknowledging that there is no one else in the world who could make them feel the way their loved one does. The song creates a feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty about the future.
The lyrics use metaphors and imagery to convey the singer's feelings. The phrase "sky of blue" is a metaphor for the feeling of happiness and contentment one experiences when in love, and the line "who else could change my tears into laughter" is an image of how much their loved one means to them. The repeated question "After you, who?" highlights the importance of their love, and the implication that there is no real answer to the question reinforces the idea that this love is unique and irreplaceable.
Overall, the song is a poignant expression of what it means to find love and the fear of losing it. It captures the vulnerability, uncertainty, and deep emotion that often accompany the experience of falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Though with joy I should be reeling
Although I should be ecstatic because you finally arrived in my life
That at last you came my way,
That you have finally entered my life
There's no further use concealing
There is no point in hiding
That I'm feeling far from gay,
That I am not feeling happy at all
For the rare allure about you
Because of the unique charm you possess
Makes me all the plainer see
I realize more clearly
How inane, how vain, how empty life without you would be.
How meaningless, how pointless, how hollow life would seem without you.
After you, who
Who else could fill the void
Could supply my sky of blue?
Could make my life happy and complete
After you, who
Who else could I adore?
Could I love?
Could I give my heart to?
After you, why
Why even bother?
Should I take the time to try,
Should I make an effort to find someone else?
For who else could qualify
Because no one else would measure up to you
After you, who?
Who else could make my life complete?
Hold my hand and swear
Promise me
You'll never cease to care,
That you will always love and cherish me
For without you there what could I do?
Without you, what else could I do?
I could search years
I could look for a long time
But who else could change my tears
But no one else could turn my sadness
Into laughter after you?
Into happiness like you could?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elisa
One of my all-time favorite recordings of one of my all-time songs. Thank you!
Matjaž Antončič violin
Though with joy I should be reeling
That at last you came my way,
There's no further use concealing
That I'm feeling far from gay,
For the rare allure about you
Makes me all the plainer see
How inane, how vain, how empty life without you would be.
After you, who
Could supply my sky of blue?
After you, who
Could I love?
After you, why
Should I take the time to try,
For who else could qualify
After you, who?
Hold my hand and swear
You'll never cease to care,
For without you there what could I do?
I could search years
But who else could change my tears
Into laughter after you?
Osamah Mandawi
I love you, Aliecia