Love for Sale
Miles Davis & Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
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Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy? Come on now
Who would like to sample my supply?
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe off love
In their childish way
You know, I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love, every love but true love
Love for sale
Appetizing young, young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me, climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love, love, love for sale
Love, love, love for sale
Love, love, love for sale
Love, love, love for sale
Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley's "Love for Sale" is a song that reflects on the commoditization of love. The lyrics describe love as something that can be bought and sold, like a product in a market. The lines "Appetizing young love for sale" and "Love that's fresh and still unspoiled" suggest that this "love" is something that is in high demand and desirable because it is new and untainted. However, the lines "Love that's only slightly soiled" imply that this "love" may not be entirely pure and may have been used or damaged in some way.
The chorus of the song poses the question, "Who will buy?" suggesting that this "love" is being offered up for sale to the highest bidder. The lyrics also suggest that those who can afford to pay the price will be rewarded with a "trip to paradise."
The song also critiques the romanticized portrayal of love in literature and poetry, with the lines "Let the poets pipe off love in their childish way / You know, I know every type of love, better far than they." This suggests that the singer has a more cynical, realistic view of love, shaped by their experiences with it.
Overall, "Love for Sale" is a commentary on the commoditization of love and relationships in modern society, and the ways in which our understanding of love has become distorted.
Line by Line Meaning
Love for sale
The song is about love being a marketable commodity.
Appetizing young love for sale
The song speaks specifically to the sale of young love, as this might be the most attractive type of love for many patrons.
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
The love being sold is new and untainted.
Love that's only slightly soiled
The love being sold may not be pristine, but the blemishes are minor and forgivable.
Who will buy? Come on now
The seller is trying to drum up interest in their wares.
Who would like to sample my supply?
The potential buyers are encouraged to try before they buy.
Who's prepared to pay the price?
The seller is asking for a high price, as the love they are selling is very valuable.
For a trip to paradise?
Buying this love represents an opportunity to experience pure bliss.
Let the poets pipe off love
The seller thinks that poets and writers don't really understand love as well as they do because they don't actively sell it like they do.
In their childish way
The seller thinks that poets oversimplify love in their writings and fail to capture all its nuances.
You know, I know every type of love
The seller boasts of having intimate knowledge about all varieties of love.
Better far than they
The seller believes they are better equipped to offer a comprehensive understanding of love than poets and writers.
If you want the thrill of love
The seller knows that some people are looking for the excitement and passion that love can bring.
I've been through the mill of love
The seller has a lot of experience with love, both good and bad.
Old love, new love, every love but true love
Despite having seen many types of love over the years, the seller has yet to find true love themselves.
If you want to buy my wares
The seller is using a commercial metaphor to refer to the love they are selling.
Follow me, climb the stairs
The buyers are being led to a private, intimate place where the transaction will take place.
Love, love, love for sale
The seller emphasizes the commercial nature of love by repeating the phrase 'love for sale' multiple times throughout the song.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Charles Winokoor
Evans is the most interesting soloist here.
His solo on this track has been one of my favorite jazz piano solos since this material was issued on CD in the ‘90s.
Unlike the sax players, he doesn’t let loose with flowing, florid lines.
He’s disciplined and terse and implies more than he’s willing to completely articulate.
Not willing to show his hand, in other words.
And he knows how to play in and out of the steady, predictable meter being laid down by Cobb.
His sense of anticipation is impeccable.
And notice how he actually capitalizes on that clinker he hits near the end of his solo.
All in all one might say he out-Mileses Miles.
Christopher Fischer
Everyone on this track blows my mind. Miles of course being cool and hip, having great language. I almost forgot just how hard Cannonball can swing and how amazing his lines are. Coltrane having an insane harmonic IQ, hitting every chord tone perfectly, and that iconic bright aggressive sound! Mr. Evans with the most complex chord structures and Chambers and Cobb swinging like hell. This is what real music sounds like!
Clyde Satterfield
What blows my mind is how certain groups are in love with Chet Baker!. Like he was the master. Really!!!!!!😀
David Egan
astute critique...
nico kiriazis
Every time I hear Cannonball I say to myself "how did I forget about Cannonball? His sound is so big and his swing is so exquisite that it almost goes taken for granted through these old recordings.
Mike Harman
Very fine comment! THANKS!
Ronald Ford
@nico kiriazis MLB
The Karma Farmer
`58 to `65. My absolute favourite Davis period. Love Shorter to bits, but what an outstanding bunch here. How fortunate we are to have had these artists in our lives. This just never gets old and I never tire of it.
Charles Barry
The greatest jazz combo ever. Just look at the members. They comprise some of the greatest names in jazz.
Nathaniel Grant
I'm inclinded to agree, and coming to this conclusion in a serious way!
Stuart Dryer
Hard to conceive an argument against this.