A Fine Romance
Louis Armstrong feat. Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics
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A fine romance, my friend this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
A fine romance, you won't nestle
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
I might as well play bridge with my old maid aunt
A fine romance, my good fellow
You take romance, I'll take jello
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
With no insults and all morals
I've never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants
I never get the chance this is a fine romance
The lyrics to Louis Armstrong feat. Ella Fitzgerald's song A Fine Romance are sassy, witty and humorous. The song talks about a romantic relationship that is not as fulfilling as it should be. The singer feels that although the relationship is fine, it is lacking in passion and intimacy. The first stanza makes use of a clever comparison between a fiery hot tomato and yesterday's mashed potatoes to illustrate the difference between what the singer wants and what she is getting from her partner.
In the second stanza, the singer complains that her partner is not affectionate enough and compares him to her old maid aunt, who she would rather play bridge with than pursue a romance. The third stanza takes a jocular approach and compares the singer and her partner's attitudes towards romance. The singer describes her partner as calmer than seals in the Arctic Ocean who flap their fins to express emotion. The final stanza illustrates the lack of passion and excitement in the relationship by saying that the singer has never mussed the crease in her partner's blue serge pants, indicating that there has been no physical contact or intimacy between them.
Overall, the song communicates a sense of disappointment and dissatisfaction with a romantic relationship that is not meeting the singer's needs.
Line by Line Meaning
A fine romance, with no kisses
This romance lacks passion and intimacy
A fine romance, my friend this is
Despite the lack of passion, it is still a good and pleasant relationship
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
The singer desires a passionate and lively relationship
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
The other person is unresponsive and uninterested in the relationship
A fine romance, you won't nestle
The other person is not willing to be physically close or affectionate
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
The other person is not willing to fight for the relationship or put in effort
I might as well play bridge with my old maid aunt
The relationship is boring and uneventful
I haven't got a chance this is a fine romance
The artist feels like they have no control or power in the relationship
A fine romance, my good fellow
The artist is addressing the other person in a friendly way
You take romance, I'll take jello
The artist is willing to be romantic while the other person would rather have something less intense
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
The other person is extremely unemotional and unresponsive
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
The artist wishes the other person would show even a little bit of emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
The relationship is peaceful and without arguments
With no insults and all morals
The relationship is respectful and without hurtful comments
I've never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants
The singer has not been physically intimate with the other person
I never get the chance this is a fine romance
Despite the lack of intimacy, the artist still thinks it's a good relationship
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: JEROME KERN, DOROTHY FIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind