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)
Not My Girl
Fred Astaire Lyrics
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Those ready to surrender girls
I've got one of a tougher kind
Rougher kind, the make men suffer kind
Who's sweet to me, not my girl
Who's kind to me, not my girl
You want to know what my girl can be
The sight of her wakes men up
A day with her shakes men up
She practically breaks men up
She's not an Annabelle Lee
Without her, I could not exist
The way that she loves is fright'ning
And on the day when she and I first kissed
I thought I was struck by lightning
Who's heavenly, not my girl
Who wants to be, not my girl
If only you'd got my girl
You'd know what's the matter with me
Who's sweet to me, not my girl
Who's kind to me, not my girl
You want to know what my girl can be
Well, listen to me
The moment she chooses you
Your family loses you
Her kissing just bruises you
You learn what loving can be
Some girls knit socks, but she's not quite
The sort to be neat and tidy
And the socks she gave me Wednesday night
Just put me to sleep till Friday
Who's heavenly, not my girl
Who wants to be, not my girl
If only you'd got my girl
You'd know what's the matter with me
In the song "Not My Girl" by Fred Astaire, the lyrics describe a woman who is rough around the edges and not the typical "tender" or "surrender" type of girl. Despite not fitting the mold of the ideal woman, she is the one who captures the singer's heart. He describes her as someone who wakes men up and shakes them up, with a love for him that is almost frightening. However, he also warns that she can bruise and hurt with her love, and once she chooses someone, that person's family may lose them.
The singer talks about how his girl is not sweet or kind, but that doesn't matter to him because he loves her all the same. The lyrics suggest that his girl may be unconventional, perhaps even a bit wild or rebellious, but the love between them is undeniable. He also mentions her socks, which are not neat or tidy but oddly put him to sleep.
The song is interesting in how it challenges the traditional view of what a good girl should be like. It celebrates a woman who is not perfect and difficult to handle, but still worthy of love and devotion. Additionally, the lyrics suggest some danger in loving someone who is so intense and passionate.
Line by Line Meaning
I've read about those tender girls
I have read about girls who are submissive and easily swayed
Those ready to surrender girls
Those girls who are willing to surrender themselves without much resistance
I've got one of a tougher kind
I, however, have a girl who is not easily controlled
Rougher kind, the make men suffer kind
My girl is a bit rough around the edges and can be quite intimidating to men
Who's sweet to me, not my girl
Although she may be tough, she treats me with little kindness or warmth
Who's kind to me, not my girl
She is not often gentle or compassionate towards me
You want to know what my girl can be
For those wondering about her true nature
Well, listen to me
I can tell you from first-hand experience
The sight of her wakes men up
Men can't help but feel alert and stimulated when they see her
A day with her shakes men up
Spending time with her can be stressful and emotionally exhausting for men
She practically breaks men up
She has the power to break a man's heart or spirit
She's not an Annabelle Lee
She is not a fragile, delicate creature
Without her, I could not exist
I am so deeply in love with her that I feel I could not survive without her
The way that she loves is fright'ning
She loves with such intensity and ferocity that it can be scary
And on the day when she and I first kissed
When we first kissed, it was an electrifying moment
I thought I was struck by lightning
It felt like lightning had actually struck me in that moment
If only you'd got my girl
If only you could experience her for yourself
You'd know what's the matter with me
You would understand why I am so smitten and why I can't get enough of her
The moment she chooses you
If she decides to be with you
Your family loses you
Your family will no longer be your priority
Her kissing just bruises you
Her kisses can be so intense that they can be physically painful
You learn what loving can be
Being with her will show you what it truly means to be in love
Some girls knit socks, but she's not quite
Some girls are gentle and domestic, but she is not one of them
The sort to be neat and tidy
She is not particularly clean or organized
And the socks she gave me Wednesday night
The socks she gave me were not particularly impressive
Just put me to sleep till Friday
They were so boring that I was completely uninterested until Friday rolled around
If only you'd got my girl
If only you could be lucky enough to have my girl in your life
You'd know what's the matter with me
You would understand why I am so deeply in love with her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DESMOND CARTER, FRED ASTAIRE, VAN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind