Just One of Those Things
Jaki Byard and Tommy Flanagan Lyrics
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To her boyfriend, "fare thee well"
As Columbus announced
When he knew he was bounced,
"it was swell, Isabel, swell"
As Abelard said to Eloise,
"don't forget to drop a line to me, please"
"romeo, why not face the fact, my dear"
It was just one of those things
Just one of those crazy flings
One of those bells that now and then rings
Just one of those things
It was just one of those nights
Just one of those fabulous flights
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
Just one of those things
If we'd thought a bit, of the end of it
When we started painting the town
We'd have been aware that our love affair
Was too hot, not to cool down
So good-bye, dear, and amen
Here's hoping we meet now and then
It was great fun
But it was just one of those things
If we'd thought a bit, of the end of it
When we started painting the town
We'd have been aware that our love affair
Was too hot, not to cool down
So good-bye, dear, and amen
Here's hoping we meet now and then
It was great fun
But it was just one of those things
Just one of those things
The lyrics of "Just One Of Those Things" reminisces about a brief, passionate but ultimately fleeting romance, through the use of historical references to famous lovers in literature and history. The opening lines allude to Dorothy Parker's famous quote, where she notoriously broke off with her boyfriend by saying, "fare thee well". Similarly, Columbus bids his final farewell with the phrase, "it was swell, Isabel, swell". The next verse mentions the lovers Abelard and Eloise, and their plea to keep in touch with each other. The final verse attributes the phrase "just one of those things" to no one in particular, but rather, to describe the wild events of a night that eventually lead to the end of the romance.
The refrain repeats the phrase "just one of those things" several times, which could allude to the fact that these types of relationships were common and often short-lived. The verse about "painting the town" hints at living fast and taking risks - and perhaps paying the consequences for it. Despite the eventual parting of ways, the lyrics carry a wistful tone, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
As Dorothy Parker once said
As the famous writer Dorothy Parker once spoke
To her boyfriend, "fare thee well"
To her romantic partner, bidding goodbye
As Columbus announced
As Christopher Columbus declared
When he knew he was bounced,
When he realized he had been rejected
"it was swell, Isabel, swell"
"It was magnificent, Isabel, magnificent"
As Abelard said to Eloise,
As the philosopher Abelard spoke to his love, Eloise
"don't forget to drop a line to me, please"
"Please remember to write to me occasionally"
As Juliet cried, in her Romeo's ear,
As Juliet wept, speaking to her lover, Romeo
"romeo, why not face the fact, my dear"
"Romeo, why not accept the reality, my dear"
It was just one of those things
It was simply one of those experiences
Just one of those crazy flings
Just one of those wild, impulsive connections
One of those bells that now and then rings
One of those moments that occur infrequently
Just one of those things
Simply one of those experiences
It was just one of those nights
It was simply one of those evenings
Just one of those fabulous flights
Just one of those amazing excursions
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
A journey to the moon on delicate wings
Just one of those things
Simply one of those experiences
If we'd thought a bit, of the end of it
If we had considered the consequences beforehand
When we started painting the town
When we began enjoying the nightlife scene
We'd have been aware that our love affair
We would have recognized that our romance
Was too hot, not to cool down
Was too intense not to fade away
So good-bye, dear, and amen
So farewell, my beloved, and may it be so
Here's hoping we meet now and then
Wishing for occasional encounters in the future
It was great fun
It was an exciting experience
But it was just one of those things
But it was only one of those experiences
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind