Take Everything But You
Jack Pleis and His Orchestra Lyrics
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A house with installments due,
A letter with lots of x-s
Everything but you.
You left me some beans from Boston,
A bicycle built for two,
A memory to get lost in,
Everything but you.
Each day was so gay and so daring,
I loved every breathtaking minute,
For how could I know I was sharing
A kiss without a future in it.
You left me a dream to room with,
A coffee pot from Peru,
A knife and fork to spoon with,
Everything but you.
You left me a horse from Texas,
A house with installments due,
A letter with lots of x-s
Everything but you.
You left me some beans from Boston,
A bicycle built for two,
A memory to get lost in,
Everything but you.
Each day was so gay and so daring,
I loved every breathtaking minute,
For how could I know I was sharing
A kiss without a future in it.
You left me a dream to room with,
A coffee pot from Peru,
A knife and fork to spoon with,
Everything but you.
Everything but you.
You left me everything, everything but you.
The lyrics of Jack Pleis and His Orchestra's song Take Everything But You entail the story of a man who has been left with material possessions and memories by his former lover, but what he truly desires is her presence. The first verse highlights the items the woman has left behind, including a horse from Texas, a house with installments due, and a letter with lots of x's, but despite all these valuables, the man still feels incomplete without her. The second verse continues with the things the woman has left which include some beans from Boston, a bicycle built for two, and a memory to get lost in. Throughout the song, it is evident that what the man truly wants is the presence of his former lover and not just material possessions and memories.
The chorus amplifies the message of the song, emphasizing that the woman has left behind everything but the one thing the man truly desires, which is her. The man is lamenting the fact that he was sharing kisses with her, but it did not have a future, and thus, he is left longing for her affection. The last verse is full of items the woman left behind like a dream to room with, a coffee pot from Peru, a knife, and a fork to spoon with, but the man understands that none of these things can replace the woman herself or even come close.
The song, Take Everything But You was released in 1953, composed by Jack Pleis, with lyrics by Jack Lawrence. The song has received a few covers, and the notable ones include those of Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Tony Bennett.
Line by Line Meaning
You left me a horse from Texas,
You left me a horse from Texas as a gift or inheritance.
A house with installments due,
You left me a house which has pending installments to pay.
A letter with lots of x-s
You left me a letter that had lots of kisses at the end.
Everything but you.
You left me everything except yourself.
You left me some beans from Boston,
You left me some beans from Boston as a souvenir.
A bicycle built for two,
You left me a tandem bicycle.
A memory to get lost in,
You left me a memory which I could cherish forever.
Everything but you.
You left me everything except yourself.
Each day was so gay and so daring,
Every day spent together was enjoyable and filled with adventure.
I loved every breathtaking minute,
I cherished every moment spent with you.
For how could I know I was sharing
I never knew that I was sharing.
A kiss without a future in it.
A kiss that had no possibility of developing into something more.
You left me a dream to room with,
You left me with a dream to aspire towards.
A coffee pot from Peru,
You left me a coffee pot from Peru as a gift.
A knife and fork to spoon with,
You left me utensils to cook and eat with.
Everything but you.
You left me everything except yourself.
Everything but you.
You left me everything except yourself.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
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