Ike Carpenter (Isaac M. Carpenter, March 11, 1920, Durham, NC - November 1… Read Full Bio ↴Ike Carpenter (Isaac M. Carpenter, March 11, 1920, Durham, NC - November 17, 1998, Durham, NC) was a popular jazz bandleader and pianist active in the 1940s and 1950s, most noted for his success in nightclubs on the West Coast during the post-World War II rise in popularity of American Jazz music.

Carpenter began performing on piano with bands at a very young age, in the mid-1930s. After graduating from college, he performed with a number of successful musicians, including Johnnie Davis.
In 1944, he worked briefly as a pianist in bandleader Boyd Raeburn's first influential jazz group, then put together his first band, working gigs on the East coast. In 1947 he relocated to Hollywood, where he formed a popular 12-man band that played primarily in the Los Angeles area, with tours up the West coast as far as Canada.
In the 1950s, he left the band scene, and worked as an accompanist for performers in the Ice Capades. In the late 1950s, he briefly returned to bandleading with small groups, before retiring to his hometown in North Carolina.
He recorded for the Modern Records label, with much of his music arranged by noted Jazz arranger and composer Paul Villepigue. Notable musicians who played with him include Lucky Thompson, Gerald Wilson, Ted Nash, and George Weidler.
His band was featured in two Hollywood musical films in the 1950s, Rhythm and Rhyme and Holiday Rhythm.

Just One More Chance
Ike Carpenter Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come and take a trip in my rocket ship
We'll have a lovely afternoon
Kiss the world goodbye
And away we'll fly
Destination moon
We'll travel fast as light till we're out of sight
The earth will be like a toy ball
What a thrill you'll get riding on my jet

We'll go up up up
Straight to the moon we two
High in the starry blue
I'll be out of this world with you
Sop away we'll steal in my space mobile
A supersonic honeymoon
Leave your cares below

Hit the switch let's go
Destination moon!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the Ike Carpenter Orchestra's song "Just One More Chance" are a journey into the realm of science fiction and romance. The song tells a story of a couple that wants to escape all their worries and embark on a journey to the moon. The lyrics are characterized by poetic language, symbolism, and vivid imagery that take the audience on a romantic and adventurous ride.

The first verse invites the listener to imagine taking a trip in a rocket ship to the moon, leaving all their problems behind. The language is filled with wonder and excitement, promising a lovely afternoon and urging the listener to kiss the world goodbye. The second verse describes the journey itself, flying faster than light, and experiencing the thrill of riding on a jet. The third verse introduces a space mobile, promising a supersonic honeymoon that takes the listener away from their daily cares, and urging them to hit the switch and join the journey.

One interpretation of the song is that it speaks to the human desire for escape and the longing to leave behind the challenges and pressures of life. The moon, in this sense, represents a symbol of hope, freedom, and new beginnings. The song's romantic language and vivid imagery create a sense of intimacy and adventure, promising listeners the possibility of a better life.

Line by Line Meaning

Come and take a trip in my rocket ship
Join me on this adventure

We'll have a lovely afternoon
We will spend a good amount of time together

Kiss the world goodbye
Leave everything else behind

And away we'll fly
We will soar away from our current state

Destination moon
Our goal is to reach the moon

We'll travel fast as light till we're out of sight
We will move through space quickly until we are gone from sight

The earth will be like a toy ball
The earth will appear small from our distant vantage point

What a thrill you'll get riding on my jet
You will feel excited traveling with me

We'll go up up up
We will ascend higher and higher

Straight to the moon we two
Our destination is the moon, the two of us alone

High in the starry blue
Far away in the space among the stars