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)
Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby
Fred Astaire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I couldn't resist you from the very start
You had me around your little finger
No trouble at all for you to tip toe in my heart
It's the first time that I lost my head completely
Oh, you swept me off my feet just one, two, three
It was just like takin' candy from a baby
The way you stole my heart away from me
The first line of the lyrics to Fred Astaire's "Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby" is a common phrase, but in this song, he uses it in a different context. He's talking about falling in love with someone who was like taking candy from a baby. He just couldn't resist her from the very start. The second line suggests that she had an irresistible charm that drew him to her, and he was unable to control himself. The phrase "had me around your little finger" implies that she had control over him.
Despite Fred Astaire's suave and sophisticated demeanor on the dance floor, he portrays himself as a helpless victim of love in this song. He was swept off his feet by this woman who managed to tiptoe her way into his heart with no trouble at all. The chorus reveals that he lost his head completely the first time he met her. His heart was stolen from him just like taking candy from a baby. It was effortless, and he found himself powerless in the face of love.
Overall, "Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby" is a classic portrayal of romantic helplessness. Astaire's smooth voice and the simple, catchy tune serve to highlight the idea that falling in love is a losing game, where the winner is the one who manages to take control of the other's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
It was just like takin' candy from a baby
It was incredibly easy to fall for you, like taking candy from a baby.
'Cause I couldn't resist you from the very start
I was immediately drawn to you and unable to resist your charms.
You had me around your little finger
You had complete control over me, able to get me to do anything you wanted.
No trouble at all for you to tip toe in my heart
You effortlessly snuck into my heart without any resistance from me.
It's the first time that I lost my head completely
I have never been so taken with someone that I lost all rational thought and control over my emotions.
Oh, you swept me off my feet just one, two, three
You quickly and thoroughly won me over, leaving me completely enamored with you.
It was just like takin' candy from a baby
You effortlessly stole my heart away from me, leaving me defenseless.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FRED ASTAIRE, GLADYS SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind