After You Who?
Helen Merrill Lyrics


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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?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Helen Merrill's song 'After You Who?' describe the complex emotions that one may feel after falling in love with someone. The singer begins by acknowledging that she should feel joyful because the person she had been longing for has finally come into her life. But instead of being happy, she admits to feeling far from gay. The rare allure of this person makes her realize how empty and meaningless her life would be without them.


The singer then poses the question, "After you, who?" This question is a rhetorical question, as the answer for the singer is no one. No one else can supply the sky of blue for her, and no one else could be loved by her after the person she is singing about. She continues to ask why she should take the time to try with anybody else if this person is not in the picture. The singer wants the person to hold her hand and promises never to cease to care for her, and without them, she feels lost. The song concludes with the sentiment that although the singer might search for years, no one else could make her laugh like this person does or change her tears into laughter.


Line by Line Meaning

Though with joy I should be reeling
Even though I should be happy that you're finally here,


That at last you came my way,
And that you finally came to me,


There's no further use concealing
But I can't hide the fact


That I'm feeling far from gay,
That I'm not happy at all


For the rare allure about you
Because your rare charm and appeal


Makes me all the plainer see
Makes me realize even more


How inane, how vain, how empty life without you would be.
How dull, how pointless, how meaningless my life would be without you.


After you, who
Who else could take your place


Could supply my sky of blue?
Could bring color and happiness into my life?


After you, who
Who else could I turn to


Could I love?
Could I love in the same way?


After you, why
Why bother trying


Should I take the time to try,
To find someone else?


For who else could qualify
Who else could measure up to you


After you, who?
To be the one I need?


Hold my hand and swear
Promise me


You'll never cease to care,
That you'll always care for me


For without you there what could I do?
Because without you, I am lost


I could search years
I could spend years looking


But who else could change my tears
But who else could turn my tears


Into laughter after you?
Into laughter, like you do?




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
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@shotaaoyama4967

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?



All comments from YouTube:

@paulviardot4400

Interprétation tendre et sublime par Mme Helen Merrill.Orchestration de haut niveau !
Bravo Madame Merrill et merci Messieurs les musiciens !

@heidisavoie

Bless the uploader for listing the personnel. The inimitable accompaniment of Hank Jones!!!!!!

@kylofabian4579

A tip: watch series at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.

@prestonledger3807

@Kylo Fabian yea, I've been using Flixzone} for years myself :)

@paulviardot4400

Version sublime et Mme London est soutenue par des musiciens incomparables .

@onlyconnect6674

Perfect Pitch. Perfect voice.

@arlene1934corwin

Love you! Have been your fan since 1954. Then you disappeared. (Or did I). I still do your arrangement of "What's New". What a timbre! (Did I spell that right?). This "After You, Who" leaves me breathless.

@MrSontaran3

Such a beautiful rendition ;-D

@pamelaannfuller9410

Thank you Ms. Merrill. This is my favorite rendition of this song by a woman (I also love John Barrowman's...) i am very sorry to hear of the loss of your son, Allan Preston Sachs, due to complications from the COVID virus in 2020. Nobody expects to lose a child.
This son--"After You, Who"--could be a song I sung to my beloved mother. (She meant that much to me...) You are gorgeous...and I would LOVE to hear you in person at some Manhattan venue. Beautiful voice; beautiful face; beautiful person!! Best wishes and thank you for bringing so much happiness and joy to people like me with your music and beautiful singing.

@shotaaoyama4967

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?

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