You Came a Long Way From St. Louis
The Rat Pack Lyrics


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You came a long way from St. Louis, you climbed the ladder of success,
I've seen the town and country cars that were parked out in front of your fancy address.
You came a long way from St. Louis, you broke a lotta hearts between,
I've seen a gang of gloomy gals who were doing alright till you came on the scene.
You came here from the middle west, and certainly impressed the population hereabouts.
Well, baby, I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too.
So natcherly I got my doubts, you got `em dropping by the wayside,
A feeling I ain't gonna know.
You came a long way from St. Louis, but baby, you still got a long way to go.





Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "You Came a Long Way From St. Louis" by The Rat Pack depict a story of a person who has achieved success but has also left a trail of broken hearts behind them. The singer acknowledges the individual's progress, mentioning how they have climbed the ladder of success and now reside in a fancy address, with town and country cars parked in front. It is implied that this person's journey began in St. Louis, and they have come a long way since then.


The singer also highlights the impact this person has had on others, particularly a group of gloomy gals who were doing fine until this individual entered the scene and shattered their happiness. The song suggests that this person has a reputation for captivating and enticing others, implying that they have a charismatic charm or allure.


However, despite their accomplishments, the singer remains skeptical. They inform the person that they are also from Missouri, invoking the phrase "I'm from Missouri too," which is commonly associated with skepticism or the need for evidence. The singer implies that they have their doubts about this person and their intentions.


Overall, the lyrics convey a mixture of admiration for the person's achievements and skepticism about their character. While acknowledging their progress, the singer remains cautious and suggests that this person still has a long way to go.


Line by Line Meaning

You came a long way from St. Louis, you climbed the ladder of success
You have made significant progress in your life, overcoming obstacles and achieving success


I've seen the town and country cars that were parked out in front of your fancy address
I have witnessed the expensive and luxurious cars parked outside your impressive residence


You came a long way from St. Louis, you broke a lotta hearts between
You have traveled far from St. Louis and left a trail of broken hearts along the way


I've seen a gang of gloomy gals who were doing alright till you came on the scene
I have observed a group of sad and heartbroken women who were doing well until you entered their lives


You came here from the middle west, and certainly impressed the population hereabouts
You arrived here from the Midwest and unquestionably made a strong impression on the local community


Well, baby, I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too
Well, my dear, I have a revelation for you, I also come from Missouri


So natcherly I got my doubts, you got `em dropping by the wayside
Therefore, naturally, I have my reservations, and it seems you are dismissing them easily


A feeling I ain't gonna know
I won't be able to experience that feeling


You came a long way from St. Louis, but baby, you still got a long way to go
You have indeed come a great distance from St. Louis, but my dear, you still have a considerable journey ahead of you




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music
Written by: John Benson Brooks, Sidney Keith Russell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Syneathia Bell

One of my favorite performance..so talented... absolute pleasure to hear Sammy, sing and dance.

Nathalia Archer

Oh, how I adore everything about this and about him!

SuperMetalSonic360

The dances he does at 5:42 are awesome! If there was a .gif file of Sammy Davis Jr. doing the mashed potatoes repeatedly, I'd probably use it a lot, not least for a profile picture on forums and such! :D Brilliantly talented guy, as were Martin and Sinatra.

Kenneth Feragen

love this performance!

Fashion4life

wow incredible! He was so talented! the rhythm omg!

DT Carpe Diem

I’m not going to become an old man and say that music today lacks this type of entertainment because it’s truly some awesome talented singers/dancers/overall show men and women out today but my God this is truly what being an entertainer means.

DT Carpe Diem

I know the band was being professional, but it’s no way I wouldn’t be smiling and damn near out of my seat looking at greatness performing.

Kevin S

fantastic,one of the greatest entertainers

josefa Batista

Essa música é bem animada

Josh Shar

wow. absolutely amazing.

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