One for My Baby
Johnny Mercer Lyrics
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Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know
We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
I know the routine, put another nickel
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
The lyrics of Johnny Mercer's song One For My Baby tell the story of a man sitting alone at a bar with the bartender, discussing his struggles and his need for a drink. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer noting the late hour and the emptiness of the bar. He then turns to the bartender, Joe, and asks for a drink, explaining that he has a story to tell. The chorus, "Make it one for my baby and one more for the road," serves as both a request for another drink and a reminder of the singer's troubles.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals more about himself. He says he knows the routine of using the jukebox, but asks for something melancholy instead of a cheerful tune. He then implies he has a lot to say but can't share everything due to a "gentleman's code." The second verse ends with a repetition of the chorus, underscoring the singer's need to keep drinking.
The final verse serves as a conclusion to the singer's story. He reveals himself to be "a kind of poet," but also prone to gloomy spells. He asks Joe to listen to him and thanks him for the company before asking for one last drink. The final line, "Make it one for my baby and one more for the road," doubles as a plea for another drink and a symbol of the baggage that the singer carries with him wherever he goes.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's late at night and the bar is empty.
Except you and me
There are only two people left in the bar.
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
Can you pour us some drinks while I tell you a story?
I think you should know
It's something important that I want to share with you.
We're drinking my friend, to the end
We're drinking together to mark the end of something.
Of a brief episode
Of a short period of time.
Make it one for my baby
Give me one last drink for old times’ sake.
And one more for the road
And one more to take with me as I leave.
I know the routine, put another nickel
I'm familiar with the routine of playing songs on the jukebox.
In the machine
In the jukebox.
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
I'm feeling sad and I want the music to reflect that.
Easy and sad
Slow and melancholy.
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
There are many things I could tell you, but it's not appropriate to do so.
In a gentleman's code
It goes against the unspoken rules of being a gentleman.
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
Despite my appearance, I have a poetic talent.
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
There are many thoughts and emotions I want to express.
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
If I seem sad, I hope you will take the time to listen to me.
Till it's talked away
Until I've talked through my troubles and feel better.
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
That's just the way life is, and I know you're ready to close up the bar.
Anxious to close
Eager to close up for the night and go home.
Thanks for the cheer
Thank you for being a good listener and providing drinks.
I hope you didn't mind
I hope I wasn't too much of a burden.
My bending your ear
Talking to you and asking for your help.
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
I need to forget about this emotional burden that’s weighing me down.
Or it's gonna explode
Otherwise, my emotions will become too much to bear.
Make it one for my baby
Give me one last drink for old times’ sake.
And one more for the road
And one more to take with me as I leave.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sussy LH
It's quarter to three
there's no one in the place
except you and me
So set 'em up Joe
I've got a little story
you ought a know
We're drinking my friend
to the end
of a brief episode
Make it one
for my baby
and one more
for the road
I got the routine
so drop another nickel
in the machine
I'm feeling so bad
I wish you'd make the music
dreamy and sad
Could tell you a lot
but that's not
in a gentleman's code
Just make it one
for my baby
and one more
for the road
You'd never
know it
but buddy
I am a kind of poet
And I've got
a lot of things
to say
And when I'm gloomy
You simply
got to listen to me
until it's talked away
Well that's how it goes
and Joe I know
you're getting
anxious to close
So thanks for the beer
I hope you didn't mind
my bending your ear
Don't let it be said
that little Freddie
can't carry his load
Just make it one
for my baby
and one more
for the road
that long
long road
that long
long road
Howard Herrnstadt
I am a jazz vocalist of many years but only recently discovered Johnny Mercer's numerous vocals on YouTube. Now, when I prepare a song by Mercer it MUST be informed by his vocal version if available. Who better to let other singers know what the song really means? For example, his version of Moon River allowed me to see that it's not a hokey lyric about people floating down a river. It's a metaphor for getting out and living a full life. Greater song than most people realize.
Ruud Moret
Johnny Mercer was not only a brilliant lyricist, he was also a gifted singer. I bought a record album of his greatest hits like 40 years ago. Ever heard him singing "Small Fry" with Bing Crosby? His rendition of his own song "The GI Jive"? He was not just great, he was terribly funny, too. "Accen-tchu-ate the Positive." How come you guys never heard of him? Because you weren't born yet? I would rank him together with Hoagy Carmichael.
Francis Alan Wormald
THIS MUST BE A CRUEL JOKE..NO LYRICIST COULD POSSIBLY SOUND THIS GREAT....HIS GENIUS BLOWS THIS 82 YR OLD AWAY...SO GLAD I DO RECALL SEEING HIM LIVE ON EARLY TV....RIP
Charlene Bowersock
I really love this man’s voice
Don R
Mercer was quite a talent. Great lyricist. Excellent singer. And a darn good composer. Wrote the music for Dream (when you're feeling blue); Something's Gotta Give; and I Wanna Be Around, among other songs, though he's generally known for his lyrics.
DDiva R
My dads fav song was Dream. Everytime I perforned it I always said this is for you Daddy.
Drew Sagar
I have always liked JMs voice and as a lyricist he was incomparable. His duets w/ Jo Stafford and Jackson T garden are memorable
jim clare
...as real as last call...for me, Johnny's version of this great song, is simply the best...
jim clare
HAPPYTHELEAF
A lyric genius was Mercer, a novelist takes a book to tell a story, a Poet can tell the same story with a poem, but Johnny could tell it with in eight lines.......
Peter Gerstenzang
It's great to hear all you musicians and lyricists talk about Mercer, like he fell into the biz by accident. The arrangement is just fine and Johnny was a remarkably hip, laconic phraser with a lovely, colloquial Southern sound. And he wrote the lyrics to about 900 classics. And kibbitzers and critics, what exactly have ya'll done?Yeah, I thought so.