Something's Gotta Give
Michael Andrew and Swingerhead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you live

Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
When an irrepressible smile such as yours
Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
Don't say no because I insist

Somewhere, somehow
Someone's gotta be kissed

So, en garde, who knows what the fates might have in store
From their vast mysterious sky
I'll try hard ignorin' those lips that I adore
But how long can anyone try?

Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight it with all of our might
Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night
We'll find out just as sure as we live

Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give

Fight, fight, fight it with all of your might
Chances are that some heavenly star-spangled night
We'll find out just as sure as we live

Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give

Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give





Aw, let's tear it up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael Andrew and Swingerhead's song Something's Gotta Give showcase the classic romantic theme of two opposing forces coming together, hinting at the inevitability of romance. The lyrics cleverly use the metaphors of an irresistible force and an immovable object to describe the two characters in the song. The two characters are aware that they come from opposite ends of the spectrum and that something's gotta give if they were to pursue a romantic relationship. The lyrics depict the male character as someone who is stubborn and inflexible, while the female character is portrayed as someone who is charming and full of life. The lyrics use the phrase "en garde" to describe the impending conflict between the two characters, as if they are warriors preparing for battle. Eventually, the song circles back to the inevitability of romance and implies that the two characters will find a way to come together.


One interesting fact about this song is that it was originally written in 1954 and was performed by the legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. The song was composed by Johnny Mercer and was included in the soundtrack of the film "Daddy Long Legs". The song has since been performed by several artists, including Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, and Michael Feinstein. Another interesting fact about the song is that it was covered by the pop-punk band The Starting Line for the soundtrack of the film "Monster-in-Law" in 2005. The cover version peaked at #30 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.


Something's Gotta Give has become a jazz standard and has been used in several films and TV shows, including "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Sex and the City". The song has been praised for its clever wordplay and metaphorical lyrics. The song's popularity has endured over the years and has been covered by a wide range of artists from different genres.


As for the chords, the song is typically performed in the key of F major. The chord progression for the verses is Fmaj7 - G7 - C7, while the chorus uses a simple F - G7 - C progression. The song also features several instrumental breaks that use a variety of jazz chord progressions.


In summary, Something's Gotta Give is a classic jazz standard that has been performed and covered by several artists. The song uses clever metaphors to describe the classic romantic theme of two opposing forces coming together. The song's popularity has endured over the years, and it continues to be a favorite of jazz enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.


Line by Line Meaning

When an irresistible force such as you
When someone as appealing as you come along,


Meets an old immovable object like me
And meets someone like me who's stuck in their ways,


You can bet just as sure as you live
It is a guarantee,


Something's gotta give
Something will change,


When an irrepressible smile such as yours
When you flash a smile that I can't ignore,


Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
And makes me feel something after being unyielding for so long,


Don't say no because I insist
Don't deny me because I am insistent,


Somewhere, somehow
At some point,


Someone's gotta be kissed
We have to kiss,


So, en garde, who knows what the fates might have in store
With that said, let's go and see where destiny takes us,


From their vast mysterious sky
From wherever the heavens will lead us,


I'll try hard ignorin' those lips that I adore
I'll do my best not to give in to the temptation of your lips,


But how long can anyone try?
But it's difficult to resist forever,


Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight it with all of our might
We'll exert every effort we can to fight against it,


Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night
It's possible that someday we'll share a romantic evening together,


We'll find out just as sure as we live
We'll eventually discover what happens,


Something's gotta give
Things will have to change,


Aw, let's tear it up
Let's give it our all,




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions