Jack in the Box
Zez Confrey and His Orchestra Lyrics
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And the robins that sing merrily
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
You can take the flowers, down in lovers lane
And that sentimental poetry
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Not for me, all that stuff
The dreams that ruin your sleep
Not for me, had enough
Love is one thing you can keep
You can take the plans and the wedding bells
And whoever sings, oh, promise me
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
'Cause love and I we don't agree
Hansoms through the park, kisses in the dark
All the promises made faithfully
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
And you won't go wrong if you take a song
Sung by Frankie Boy or Mr. C
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
Not for me, all that stuff
Not for me, had enough
You know what to do with good old tea for two
And the girl for you, the boy for me
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
'Cause love and I we don't agree
The song "Jack in the Box" by Zez Confrey and His Orchestra is a playful jab at the conventions of love and romance. The lyrics suggest that the singer has no interest in the clichéd symbols of love - such as the moon, the stars, flowers, sentimental poetry, wedding bells, and promises of forever. Instead, the singer suggests throwing all of these objects into the ocean and forgetting about them. The singer asserts that love is not something that can be boxed up and packaged - it's something that either works or it doesn't.
Moreover, the singer seems to have had enough of these symbols of love and the unrealistic expectations they create. The lyrics imply that romance is not all it's cracked up to be - dreams can ruin sleep, promises can be broken, and love can be fleeting. The singer suggests that he would rather listen to a song sung by Frankie Boy or Mr. C than indulge in the trappings of love.
In summary, "Jack in the Box" is a witty and irreverent commentary on love and romance. The song challenges the traditional symbols of love and encourages the listener to focus on what's real and meaningful, rather than what's expected.
Line by Line Meaning
You can take the moon, gather up the stars
You can have everything there is in the world, possess all the treasures out there.
And the robins that sing merrily
Even the chirping sounds of the lovely birds, who provide you with joy every day.
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
You can keep all of the things you love so dearly in a safe, organized manner.
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
But in the end, it all means nothing and you can throw it away, leave it all behind.
Not for me, all that stuff
All of these meaningless things don't appeal to me in the slightest.
The dreams that ruin your sleep
These dreams aren't anything worthwhile and they will not add to your peace of mind.
Love is one thing you can keep
Love is the only worthwhile thing in life, and it is worth holding onto above everything else.
You can take the plans and the wedding bells
You can plan as much as you want and even have a perfect marriage, but it is not essential.
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
You can keep all of the things you love so dearly in a safe, organized manner.
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
But in the end, it all means nothing and you can throw it away, leave it all behind.
'Cause love and I we don't agree
Love is not something I relate to and I don't understand it.
Hansoms through the park, kisses in the dark
The romantic moments that make you feel good and give you something to dream about.
All the promises made faithfully
The commitments you make with your loved ones, putting your faith in their sweet words.
And you won't go wrong if you take a song
Music is the best way to soothe yourself and to find solace through tough times.
Sung by Frankie Boy or Mr. C
The genre of music doesn't matter much, as long as you find something that resonates with you.
You know what to do with good old tea for two
You understand what to do with something that has been around for so long and is so simple.
And the girl for you, the boy for me
Relationships or intimate, romantic connections between two human beings, irrespective of gender.
'Cause love and I we don't agree
Love is not something I relate to and I don't understand it.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JULE STYNE, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tic Toc Melody
Well I'm done with the "Z's"! And what fun that was! Thanks for all the Zez! Love his piano playing, love his arrangements, love the material. What's not to love? 😃
Annie Van Auken
What I would've loved is stereo hi-fi Zez. If only.