Billie Holiday "One for my Baby (and one more for the road)"

It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
Except you and me
So set 'em' up joe, I got a little story you autta know

We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

I know the routine, put another nickel
In the machine
I'm feelin so bad, I hope they make the music
dreamy and sad

I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

You'd never know it, but buddy i'm a kind of poet
And i've got a lot of things i'd like to say
And if i'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away

Well that's how it goes, and joe i know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear

But this torch that i found, it's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

Writen by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen.

Originally writen for Fred Astaire.

Many artist have recorded One For My Baby including Frank Sinatra, but the first time I ever heard this song was when Bette Midler sang to Johnny Carson on his final Tonite Show. I also have the Lena Horne version on a 78 that I play on my 1917 Victor Victrola. All verions are beautiful in their own way but no one creates a mood like Lady Day.

Category:

Music

Tags:

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• Distingué
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• Billie
• Holiday
• Jazz
• Blues
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[prettyboytroy555]

I was suprised by the clarity of 1.) The clarity of that sax... And 2.) The clarity of her voice on this video when it first comes on. Nice and clear...

[jazzdolly]

you just can't manufacture soul..........priceless

[crystaldream1981]

I love Miss Billie Holiday.

[colovietnamvet]

It's a shame that her life was so hard. Her voice was one of a kind. I had some old records with her music and they were beyond belief.

[AlexStalenberg]

When I was one year of age i must have heard this one...

[mygaffer]

Wow, Billie Holiday listened to Tom Chick's podcast?

[teddypantelas]

My Favorite version of this tune period.

[mattiecretney]

WOW! Simply beautiful!

[Yobidefy]

didnt Marilyn Monroe sang this song? or Jane Rusell?

[chewinggumbellz]

beautiful.

[SardonicALLY]

I am way to young to have ever heard her live but man do i wish i coulda. I believe in her own words she expressed in an interview that every time she sang ... the mood, the tempo, the tembre of her voice was different.

What it must have been to be in the room when she performed with all those unique musicians, and to know that no one would ever hear that song quite that way again unless it was recorded at that time.