Love for Sale
O'Day Anita Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of a wayward town
That a smile becomes a smirk
I go to work
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
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 kind but true love
For sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love for sale
The lyrics to Anita O'Day's "Love for Sale" are deceptively simple, yet carry a great deal of complexity and meaning. At the heart of the song is a commentary on the commodification of love and relationships, and the ways in which society often treats them as nothing more than a transactional exchange. The persona of the song describes herself as a seller of love, offering "appetizing young love for sale" to anyone who is willing to pay the price.
Throughout the lyrics, the persona contrasts the idealized version of love that we often see in movies and books with the messy reality of relationships. She knows "every type of love better far than they" and has experienced "old love, new love, every kind but true love." By framing love as a product that she is selling, the persona highlights the ways in which love has been reduced to a commodity in our society, something that can be bought and sold like any other material good.
The title of the song, "Love for Sale," is particularly evocative, as it suggests that love is something that can be purchased and owned, rather than an emotion that we experience and share with others. It is a powerful reminder of the ways in which capitalism and consumerism have seeped into all areas of our lives, including our most intimate relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound on the empty street
When the solitary noise in the deserted street
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
Is the loud footsteps of the solitary cop
That belong to a lonesome cop
Who is the only person wandering in the empty street
I open shop
I start my business
When the moon so long has been gazing down
When the moon has been looking down for a long time
On the wayward ways of a wayward town
On the unpredictable ways of an unpredictable town
That a smile becomes a smirk
That happiness transforms into sarcasm
I go to work
I begin my job
Love for sale
Affection to be sold
Appetizing young love for sale
Desirable young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that is new and untainted
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love that is only slightly damaged
Love for sale
Love that can be purchased
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who is interested in purchasing? Who wants to try my merchandise?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Who is willing to pay the cost for a trip to happiness?
Love for sale
Affection to be sold
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
Let the poets express love in their naive style
I know every type of love better far than they
I understand every kind of love better than them
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
If you want the excitement of love, I have experienced everything love has to offer
Old love, new love
Past love, current love
Every kind but true love
Every type except genuine love
For sale
Available for purchase
Appetizing young love for sale
Desirable young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
If you want to purchase my merchandise
Follow me and climb the stairs
Come with me and ascend the stairs
Love for sale
Affection for purchase
Love for sale
Affection to be sold
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurène Alban
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy
Who would like to sample my supply
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
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 for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
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 for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love for sale
Love for sale
Luis R. Irizarry Agosto
Truly a Top notch orchestra
gregger59
In addition to the great interpretation of the notes, I love the way she uses her voice as a rythmic instrument. What syncopation.
dpohunter
Fantastic up-tempo arrangement on this. O'Day is not only terrific to listen to, she is also incredibly watchable.
David2020
This arrangement is a direct copy of the one by Billy Mays on the 'Swings Cole Porter' album. Not that that's a problem of course :)
OCTOBERLY
@David2020 I believe he arranged it for Anita
Luis R. Irizarry Agosto
A great musical arrangement and direction, the orchestra with a great sound and interpretation.
Wayne Brasler
A talent supreme. Anita, June Christy and Chris Connor were all fans of each other's music and recorded many of the same songs. The public generally lumped them together but in reality their vocal equipment, interpretative style and talents were quite different, and it was when the recorded the same songs that truth clearly emerged. All three were Midwestern girls and that showed in the personalities of all three, very wonderful ladies in every way.
Blond Thought
I do love her interpretation of this fabulous song, especially the sublime mid-section. Not to mention the fact that she knew how to move to a song. Who has ever mastered the fine art of restrained movement better than Miss O'Day?
David Mehnert
Blond Thought also she has the quirkiest facial expressions, and makes such good use of them (I think)... another kind of performer might have tried to homogenize their (inadvertent) asides, but she lets it all show, and its the power of strong enchantment
stuntcat666
Anita's version is the best of a lot of songs, just imho :) She deserves a lot more listens.