Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was … Read Full Bio ↴Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and died due to breast cancer in Encino, California.
Irene's older brother, Roy Kral, was a successful musician when Irene started singing professionally as a teenager. She sung with bands on tours led by Woody Herman and Chubby Jackson, former Herman bass player.
Irene joined Maynard Ferguson's band in the late 1950s and sang with groups led by Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.
Irene then started a solo career until her death at 46 years of age. She was a ballad singer who stated that Carmen McRae was one of her inspirations.
Irene was made more famous posthumously when Clint Eastwood used her recordings in his 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County.
(from Wikipedia)

Nobody Else But Me
Irene Kral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was a shy, demure type
Inhibited, insecure type of maid
I stayed within my little shell
Till a certain cutie told me I was swell
Now I'm smug and snooty
Confident as hell

I want to be no-one but me

I am in love with a lover who likes me the way I am
I have my faults, he likes my faults
I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
He may be wrong, but if we get along
What do we care say we
When he holds me close, close as we can be
I tell the lad that I'm grateful and I'm glad that
I'm nobody else but me

I have my faults, he likes my faults
I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
I get a thrill knowing he gets a thrill
When I sit on his knee
Walking on the shore, swimming in the sea
When I am with him, I'm glad that girl who's with him
Is nobody else but me

When he holds me close, close as we can be

I tell the lad that I'm grateful and I'm glad that
I'm nobody else but me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Irene Kral's song "Nobody Else But Me" talk about the transformation of the singer. She used to be the shy, demure, and inhibited type of person who always stayed within her comfort zone. However, everything changed when a certain "cutie" told her that she was "swell". With that encouragement, the singer slowly came out of her shell and became "smug and snooty, confident as hell". The song emphasizes her desire to be true to herself and not to conform to society's standards. She is now comfortable with who she is and wants to remain that way.

Line by Line Meaning

I was a shy, demure type
I used to be a reserved and modest person

Inhibited, insecure type of maid
I lacked confidence and was unsure of myself

I stayed within my little shell
I kept to myself and didn't go out of my comfort zone

Till a certain cutie told me I was swell
Until someone special complimented me and made me feel good about myself

Now I'm smug and snooty
Now I am conceited and arrogant

Confident as hell
Extremely confident

I want to be no-one but me
I don't want to be anyone else but myself

I am in love with a lover who likes me the way I am
I love someone who accepts me for who I am

I have my faults, he likes my faults
I am not perfect, but he loves me despite my flaws

I'm not very bright, he's not very bright
Neither of us are exceptionally intelligent

He thinks I'm grand, that's grand for me
He thinks I am wonderful and that means a lot to me