The One I Love
Helen Forrest & Carmen Dragon and His Orchestra Lyrics
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I may be wrong but I think you're swell
I like your style say, I think it's marvelous
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You came along say I think you're wonderful
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful
I may be wrong but I think you're swell
I like your style say, I really think it's marvelous
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You might be John Barrymore
You came along say I think you're wonderful
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
You said that Edison would never make that light
You laughed at Mr. Franklin with his key and kite
The point of the song is I'm always wrong
But with you baby I'm oh so right.
In Helen Forrest's song I May Be Wrong, the singer expresses their admiration for someone with a sense of uncertainty. The opening lines, "I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful, I may be wrong but I think you're swell," demonstrate their self-doubt, but also their genuine praise for this person. They continue to compliment their subject's style, calling it "marvelous" but questioning their own ability to judge this accurately. The singer's views on life are quite negative as they describe "deuces to me are all aces" and "life is to me just a bore," giving the impression that this admiration is a rare bright spot in their existence.
The song is infused with a playful tone, as the singer muses about the possibility that their subject could be the famous actor John Barrymore disguised as an everyday person. The lines "you might be John Barrymore" add a humorous touch to the song, making it feel light and amusing. The final lyrics suggest that the singer has been proven wrong many times in their life but that their feelings towards this person are the exception. They mention famously rejected inventions like Edison's light bulb and Franklin's kite, again proving their tendency to overlook great things, but suggest that their feelings towards their subject are sure.
Line by Line Meaning
I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful
Although I'm not entirely sure, I have a great admiration for you
I may be wrong but I think you're swell
Even though it's possible that I'm mistaken, I find you to be great
I like your style say, I think it's marvelous
Your way of being is excellent, and I feel that it's admirable
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
Since I'm usually mistaken, I find it difficult to trust my own judgment
Deuces to me are all aces
What I perceive as mediocre is quite impressive to me
Life is to me just a bore
Everything seems dull and unexciting to me
Faces are all open spaces
People's expressions reveal everything to me
You might be John Barrymore
You could be someone with great talent
You came along say I think you're wonderful
Since you've been present, I've come to believe that you're fantastic
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
I believe that you're excellent, but I acknowledge that I might be mistaken
You said that Edison would never make that light
You doubted that Edison would succeed with his invention of the lightbulb
You laughed at Mr. Franklin with his key and kite
You found it amusing that Franklin tried to get lightning to strike his kite
The point of the song is I'm always wrong
The main idea of the song is that I am often incorrect
But with you baby I'm oh so right.
However, when I'm with you, I feel that I'm absolutely correct
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUSKIN HARRY, HENRY SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind