Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey, (born January 8, 1937), is a Welsh singer, pe… Read Full Bio ↴Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey, (born January 8, 1937), is a Welsh singer, perhaps best-known for performing the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). She is the only singer to have recorded more than one James Bond theme song.

She now resides in Monaco and has recently sold her London apartment. Many of its furnishings were auctioned for charity. Two very popular 'Audiences With Shirley Bassey' have aired on British TV, the most recent being in March 2006.

In 2006, UK retailer Marks and Spencer hired Bassey for their Christmas advertising campaign, with Dame Shirley singing a cover of P!nk's 'Get the Party Started'.

In late 2009 Bassey released 'The Performance' her first studio album for two decades, which was released in a maelstrom of anticipation. Still popular well into one of the longest and most illustrious musical careers in British and indeed international history, Bassey is considered by Brits to be a national treasure.

Just One of Those Things
Shirley Bassey 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 a bit before 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 good-bye, dear, and amen
Here's hoping we meet now and then
It was great fun
But it was just one of those things

If we'd thought a bit before 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 good-bye, dear, and amen
Here's hoping we meet now and then

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shirley Bassey's song "Just One of Those Things" are about a short-lived, passionate romantic fling that has come to an end. The song expresses the sentiment that such affairs are not uncommon and that they come and go like random occurrences - 'just one of those things.' The lyrics are reflective and philosophical, suggesting that if the lovers had been more aware of the fleeting nature of their affair, they would have anticipated its end.

The first verse sets the tone for the song, describing the affair as 'one of those crazy flings,' a fleeting romance which has run its course like the ringing of a bell. The second verse suggests that the lovers were caught up in the moment, taking flight together like two birds on 'gossamer wings,' but they failed to anticipate that their passion would be unable to sustain itself. The "thinking bit" mentioned in the third verse is an acknowledgment that the two likely knew deep down their adventure would not last.

The song's chorus provides the summation of the theme, stating that the affair was "just one of those things," and that even though it was a great source of joy, it cannot last forever. The last lines, "so goodbye, dear, and amen, here's hoping we meet now and then," provide some sense of closure for the lovers, suggesting they will go their separate ways but may occasionally cross paths again.

Line by Line Meaning

It was just one of those things
It was one of those unpredictable events that happen in life

Just one of those crazy flings
It was an impulsive and short-lived romantic relationship

One of those bells that now and then rings
It was a rare moment of excitement and joy that happens infrequently in life

Just one of those things
It was simply one of those events that occur inexplicably in life

It was just one of those nights
It was one of those magical and unforgettable evenings

Just one of those fabulous flights
It was like soaring through the air on an extraordinary adventure

A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
It was like a fairy tale journey to a distant and enchanting place

If we'd thought a bit before the end of it
If we had taken a moment to reflect on what was happening

When we started painting the town
When we began to enjoy the wild and exciting nightlife of the city

We'd have been aware that our love affair
We would have realized that our romantic involvement

Was too hot not to cool down
Was too intense to last forever

So good-bye, dear, and amen
Farewell and may you be blessed

Here's hoping we meet now and then
I hope we can cross paths occasionally in the future

It was great fun
It was an exciting and enjoyable experience

But it was just one of those things
However, it was just one of those fleeting and unpredictable events that occur in life

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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