One For My Baby
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics


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Okay, and once again, here's Bette Midler

{"Well, you know, when they asked me to come on and
I can't believe it, the last, the last guest
The last fool Mr. Carson will have to suffer gladly
You are the wind beneath my wings
Oh, well he is"}
Quarter to three
There's no one in the place except you and me
So set 'em up, Joe
Got a little story, I think you should know

We're drinkin', my friend
To the end of a sweet episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

Got the routine
So drop another nickel in the machine
Oh, gee, I'm feelin' so bad
Wish you'd make the music so dreamy and sad

You could tell me a lot
But it's not in a gentleman's code
Let's make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

You may not know it but buddy you're a kind of poet
And you've had a lot of things to say
And when I'm gloomy, you always listen to me
Until it's talked away

Well, that's how it goes
And John I know you're getting anxious to close
So, thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind me, bending your ear

For all of the years
For the laughs, for the tears
For the class that you showed

Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
That long, long road





"Thank you, Bette, ah"

Overall Meaning

The song "One For My Baby" by Nancy Sinatra is a melancholic tune about a man who finds himself alone in a bar with nothing but his thoughts and a drink to keep him company. The song starts off with the man, presumably the singer, looking for someone to converse with in a nearly empty bar at quarter to three in the morning. This man is asking the bartender, Joe, to pour him one drink for the end of a sweet episode and one more drink for the road. Throughout the lyrics, we find out that this man is not in a good place emotionally and is seeking solace in the drink and the bartender's company.


In the second verse, we see the interaction between the man and Joe as they discuss the situation he's in, and the man tells Joe to make the music "dreamy and sad." The man then confesses his feelings to Joe and tells him that he knows he won't say anything because it's not in the "gentleman's code." In the final verse, the man expresses his gratitude to Joe for listening to him all these years and for being there through the good times and the bad. The man ends the song by asking Joe for one last drink for the road, as he embarks on the "long, long road" ahead.


Overall, "One For My Baby" is a poignant song that captures the feeling of being lost and alone in a crowded world. The lyrics speak to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by life's challenges and needed a listening ear to share their thoughts.


Line by Line Meaning

Quarter to three
It's almost 3 am.


There's no one in the place except you and me
The bar is empty except for the two of them.


So set 'em up, Joe
Order another round of drinks, bartender.


Got a little story, I think you should know
I have something to tell you.


We're drinkin', my friend
We're having a drink, buddy.


To the end of a sweet episode
Cheers to the end of a good time.


Make it one for my baby
I'll have another drink for myself.


And one more for the road
And one for the road, for good luck.


Got the routine
I know what to do next.


So drop another nickel in the machine
Put some money in the jukebox.


Oh, gee, I'm feelin' so bad
I'm feeling really low.


Wish you'd make the music so dreamy and sad
I wish the music was slow and sad to match my mood.


You could tell me a lot
You have a lot of wisdom to share.


But it's not in a gentleman's code
But it's not proper etiquette to share everything.


Let's make it one for my baby
I'll have another drink for myself.


And one more for the road
And one for the road, for good luck.


You may not know it but buddy you're a kind of poet
You have a way with words.


And you've had a lot of things to say
You have a lot of stories to tell.


And when I'm gloomy, you always listen to me
You're always there for me when I'm sad.


Until it's talked away
Until I feel better after talking about it.


Well, that's how it goes
That's just how life is.


And John I know you're getting anxious to close
I know you want to close up soon, John.


So, thanks for the cheer
Thanks for the good time.


I hope you didn't mind me, bending your ear
I hope I didn't talk your ear off too much.


For all of the years
For all the time we've spent here.


For the laughs, for the tears
For the good times and the sad times.


For the class that you showed
For your good manners and professionalism.


Make it one for my baby
I'll have another drink for myself.


And one more for the road
And one for the road, for good luck.


That long, long road
The long journey ahead.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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