Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was a well-known … Read Full Bio ↴Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was a well-known American bandleader, arranger and orchestrator whose career spanned from the late 1940s until the early 1980s. Riddle is perhaps best known for his 1950s work for Capitol Records, providing jazzy big-band style arrangements to accompany such vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Louis Prima and Keely Smith. Later, his arranging talents were also used by Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Bassey, Matt Monro, Linda Ronstadt, and others. His arrangements are characterized by innovative orchestration with counter melodies and instrumentation that express the emotions of each verse of a song. Interestingly, whilst arranging the Sinatra albums he received the pay of a band sideman, which was enhanced by Capitol when Nat King Cole discovered the anomaly and insisted he receive fair remuneration.

Just One Of Those Things
Nelson Riddle Lyrics

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It was just one of those things
Just one of those crazy flings
One of those bells that now and then rings
Just one of those things

It was just one of those nights
Just one of those fabulous flights
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings

Just one of those things

If we'd thought of it 'bout the end of it
When we started painting the town
We'd have been aware that our love affair
Was too hot not to cool down

So goodbye, dear, and Amen
Here's hoping we'll meet now and then
It was great fun
But it was just one of those things

Just one of those bells that now and then rings
Just one of those things
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
Just one of those things

If we'd thought of it 'bout the end of it
When we started painting that town
We'd have been aware that our love affair
Was too hot not to cool down

So goodbye, dear, and Amen
Here's hoping we'll meet now and then

It was great fun
But it was just, just one of those things

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Just One Of Those Things" by Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra describe a passionate but fleeting love affair. The first verse establishes that the relationship was a temporary and unexpected occurrence, the result of a chance encounter or impulse. The second verse expands on this idea, using the metaphor of a flight to the moon on delicate wings to suggest the ephemeral, otherworldly quality of the romance. However, by the end of the song, the singer acknowledges that the relationship was too intense to last, and bids farewell to their lover. While the experience was fun and exhilarating, it is clear that it was always destined to end.

The lyrics utilize playful language and imagery to convey the sense of adventure and carefree abandon that can come with a short-term romance. The use of the word "flings" in the first verse implies a certain lightheartedness or lack of seriousness on the part of both parties, while the phrase "too hot not to cool down" acknowledges that the intensity of the relationship was ultimately unsustainable. The final lines of the song, with their sentiment of "here's hoping we'll meet now and then," convey a bittersweet nostalgia for what once was.

Line by Line Meaning

It was just one of those things
This experience was not extraordinary or significant, it was just a commonplace occurrence

Just one of those crazy flings
This was a temporary and impulsive relationship that was not meant to last

One of those bells that now and then rings
This was a sudden and unpredictable event that occurred out of the blue

Just one of those things
This experience falls into the category of unremarkable and non-memorable events

Just one of those nights
This was an evening like any other, not particularly special or noteworthy

Just one of those fabulous flights
This was a momentary thrill or exhilaration that was fleeting and short-lived

A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
This was a fanciful and unrealistic experience that was not grounded in reality

If we'd thought of it 'bout the end of it When we started painting the town
If we had been more aware of our situation and the consequences of our actions at the beginning of our affair, we might have recognized that it was not a stable relationship

We'd have been aware that our love affair Was too hot not to cool down
We would have realized that our intense passion could not be sustained and that it would inevitably fizzle out

So goodbye, dear, and Amen
We must bid each other farewell and accept the reality of our situation

Here's hoping we'll meet now and then
Although we are parting ways, we still hold out hope that we may cross paths in the future

It was great fun
This experience was enjoyable and entertaining, but ultimately not meaningful or lasting

But it was just one of those things
Despite any positive or negative emotions we feel about this experience, it remains just another unremarkable event in our lives

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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