1) Jerry Butler, Jr… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:
1) Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939 in Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer also known as "The Ice Man" because of his cool demeanour while singing often intensely emotional lyrics.
Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by a Philadelphia disc jockey while performing in a Philadelphia theater. However, Butler achieved what eluded many earlier Doo Wop groups during the 1950s and 1960s — longevity. Butler’s solo career had a string of hits, including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (the Everly Brothers classic re-done as a duet with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me," "Ain’t Understanding Mellow," (duet with Brenda Lee Eager), and "Never Gonna Give You Up," followed by two hugely successful albums The Iceman Cometh in 1968 and Ice On Ice in 1970. The Iceman Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations. Jerry Butler further made recordings for Philadelphia International Records in the 80's. His most noted song for the label was "Cooling Out"
One Night Affair
Jerry Butler Lyrics
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Baby, I just could not stand, um, hum
To be hurt again
Um, hum, ooh wee, baby, ooh, hoo, listen lady
He'll wine and dine you, take you anywhere you wanna go
Oh, but when the night is over
Hey, you just may not see me no more
All I want is a one night affair that won't hurt nobody
One night affair
Hey, I'll hit 'n' run, you son of a gun
But I'll hit 'n' run, but it could be fun, I said
I don't wanna love nobody
Don't wanna take me a while
Girl, you just may not be ready
To go steady for the rest of your life
So for that reason, a one night affair
It'll be alright, a one night affair, let's start tonight
Hit 'n' run, aha son of a gun
I gonna hit 'n' run, yes, I mean it, yes, I mean it
Cause you see I've been a lonely man
And I want you to understand
That I'll never let you under my skin
Cause I don't want to be hurt again
Oh no, baby
(Hit 'n' run)
Um, hum
(Son of a gun)
I couldn't stand it, baby
(Hit 'n' run)
No, no, no, no, now
A one night affair, sounds in a hurry
A one night affair but you don't have to worry
I'll hit and run, I'll be a son of a gun
And I know you have been lonely too
That's why you will understand
Why a broken heart is so harder to mend
But one of these day, I'll be alright
If you just let me love you tonight
And though it may sound a little temporary
Sometimes, baby, it's so necessary
A one night affair, I declare
One night affair
Hey, just hit 'n' run, I'll be a son of a gun
Said I'll hit 'n' run, yes I will, yes I will, baby
One night affair won't hurt nobody
A one night affair
Baby
(Hit 'n' run)
Won't you be mine
(Son of a gun)
For just a little while
(Hit 'n' run)
Hey, won't you be mine
Won't you hold me
One night affair
Oh, baby
The lyrics to Jerry Butler's One Night Affair depict the singer's desire for a fleeting moment of romance with a woman without strings attached. He expresses his reluctance to pursue a deeper emotional commitment or invest in a long-term relationship, fearing the emotional pain that may result from a failed relationship. He admits that he has been a lonely man seeking companionship, but he believes that a one night affair is the best solution for his emotional state.
The singer alludes to the idea that such affairs are not uncommon, especially for people who are not ready to commit to a serious relationship. He emphasizes the temporary nature of such romantic liaisons and the need for both parties to understand the rules of engagement before getting into such arrangements. At the same time, the singer suggests that such short-term flings can be necessary and offer a solution for individuals who want to experience some kind of connection without the emotional commitment of a more profound romance.
Behind the catchy tune and the upbeat tempo, the lyrics of One Night Affair convey a universal truth about human nature and the complexities of relationships. They point out how people can desire a romantic partner yet fear the emotional attachments that come with such relationships. The singer's open-mindedness and willingness to engage in a one night affair only serve to highlight the various ways in which people navigate their romantic lives based on their own preferences and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I'll never let you under my skin
I won't let you get too close to me emotionally.
Baby, I just could not stand, um, hum
I can't handle getting hurt again.
To be hurt again
I don't want to experience the pain of heartbreak again.
Um, hum, ooh wee, baby, ooh, hoo, listen lady
Listen to me, lady
He'll wine and dine you, take you anywhere you wanna go
He'll treat you well and take you out.
Oh, but when the night is over
When the night is finished,
Hey, you just may not see me no more
You might not see me again after tonight.
All I want is a one night affair that won't hurt nobody
I only want a one-time encounter that won't cause any harm.
One night affair
A brief encounter
Hey, I'll hit 'n' run, you son of a gun
I'll have a one-night stand with you and then disappear.
But I'll hit 'n' run, but it could be fun, I said
I'll leave after our one-night stand, but it could be enjoyable.
I don't wanna love nobody
I'm not interested in a long-term relationship.
Don't wanna take me a while
I don't want to commit to anything long-term.
Girl, you just may not be ready
You might not be prepared for something more serious.
To go steady for the rest of your life
To commit to a serious relationship forever
So for that reason, a one night affair
That's why I only want a brief encounter.
It'll be alright, a one night affair, let's start tonight
It will be okay to have a one-night stand, so let's begin tonight.
Hit 'n' run, aha son of a gun
I will participate in a one-night stand and then leave.
I gonna hit 'n' run, yes, I mean it, yes, I mean it
I definitely plan to participate in a one-night stand.
Cause you see I've been a lonely man
I've been feeling lonely lately.
And I want you to understand
I need you to comprehend my situation.
That I'll never let you under my skin
I won't allow you to become too emotionally attached.
Cause I don't want to be hurt again
Because I don't want to get hurt again.
Oh no, baby
Oh no, darling
(Hit 'n' run)
(Have a one-night stand and leave)
Um, hum
Yes
(Son of a gun)
(Remark of endearment)
I couldn't stand it, baby
I can't bear to feel the pain.
(Hit 'n' run)
(Have a one-night stand and leave)
No, no, no, no, now
No, not now
A one night affair, sounds in a hurry
A brief encounter that seems rushed
A one night affair but you don't have to worry
A one-time encounter that doesn't require any worries.
I'll hit and run, I'll be a son of a gun
I'll have a short-term sexual encounter and then leave.
And I know you have been lonely too
I understand that you have also been feeling lonely.
That's why you will understand
That's why you will empathize with me.
Why a broken heart is so harder to mend
Why it's challenging to heal a wounded heart.
But one of these day, I'll be alright
Someday, I will be okay.
If you just let me love you tonight
If you let me have a one-night stand with you.
And though it may sound a little temporary
Although it's short-lived
Sometimes, baby, it's so necessary
At times, it's essential, darling.
A one night affair, I declare
A one-night stand, I proclaim.
One night affair
One-time sexual encounter
Hey, just hit 'n' run, I'll be a son of a gun
Just let me have a brief sexual encounter, and then I'll leave.
Said I'll hit 'n' run, yes I will, yes I will, baby
Yes, I will have a one-night stand and leave, darling.
One night affair won't hurt nobody
A one-night stand won't cause any harm to anyone.
A one night affair
A brief sexual encounter.
Baby
Darling
(Hit 'n' run)
(Have a one-night stand and leave)
Won't you be mine
Will you be my companion for tonight?
(Son of a gun)
(Remark of endearment)
For just a little while
For a short period.
(Hit 'n' run)
(Have a one-night stand and leave)
Hey, won't you be mine
Hey, will you be my companion for tonight?
Won't you hold me
Will you embrace me for tonight?
One night affair
A short sexual encounter.
Oh, baby
Oh, darling.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MTN - A Rainbow Pastures Company
The O’Jays originally did this song back in 1969 on Neptune.
Helen Rawls
I love this song. Jerry Butler has always been one of my favorite singers.
Robert Chatman
Jerry butler did the best on this song. I love it.
Rene J. Cortez
I was there playing with him the organ.
chubbychuckle
Wow, you did a great job!
Sam Rosedietcher
Turn It Up !!!
Stephen Sutcliffe
The ice man and the beginnings of disco.
W
@TheBennychin The original O'Jays version (that I have heard) did NOT have the "disco beat." This version by Jerry Butler DOES have the disco beat. That's what makes it disco.
TheBennychin
The original version of this song by The O'Jays is actually the first Disco song.
Colin Manuele
very nice- the voice -touches the heart