JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS

JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS

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This song uses "things" in an idiomatic construction, shown in the title. This is common in spoken language compared to written language.
    This song is by Cole Porter, one of the great American songwriters (lyrics and music). The song takes a cynical approach to casual love affairs ("crazy flings") that end just as casually as they began ("why not face the fact, my dear").
    Infatuation (foolish romances) is called "just one of those things"! For Composition students there's a difference between using "things" deliberately like this, or carelessly. Porter knows what he's doing when he uses the word.
    The classic American pop song was built in 3 parts: verse-chorus (main strain)-bridge (second strain)-chorus (main strain), so a-ABA. It's a pity verses are often dropped in many performances today because some of the best lyrics and music are in the verses! Study the verse below (beginning, "As Dorothy Parker. . . ."). Notice the use of proper nouns (person names) and dialogue. In fact the dialogue is quite witty. Parker was a famous writer and wit. Columbus "discovered" America for Queen Isabella of Spain.
    Note the effective use of diction, using the modern idiomatic "swell" and "bounced" (dismissed, rejected) in a context of old Spain! Porter's word choice was deliberate.
    Porter uses the same blend of diction [word choice] in the word "Amen," which is mainly used in religious contexts from the Bible meaning "certainly." Thus Jesus says, "Amen, Amen I say to you" and churchgoers repeat "Amen" to agree with what has been spoken. But here Porter uses "Amen" in a very nonreligious context, with a casual disdain for the meaning of human relationships: "Goodbye dear and Amen, here's hoping we meet now and then"!
    Note too the different metaphors for love: a "bell" that "now and then" rings; fabulous flight, trip to the moon. Incidentally, the great phrase, "gossamer wings" was given to Porter by a businessman when Porter struggled to find the perfect word ("bon mot" or "mot juste" as the French say). Writing takes care & Porter was not above taking advice even from someone who wasn't a professional songwriter if he thought the advice was good.
    Finally note the scheme of antitheses (opposites) in the line, "was too hot not to cool down" with the embedded rhyme hot/not perfectly suited to the accent of the melody at that point: "was too HOT NOT to cool down."
    The singer is the great jazz vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald released "songbooks" of the great American song composers (Berlin, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Jerome Kern, Ellington, and Porter). They are highly recommended. Lyrics follow the video icon.

VERSE
As Dorothy Parker once said
To her boyfriend, "Fare thee well"
As Columbus announced
When he knew he was bounced,
"It was swell, Isabel, swell"

As Abelard said to Eloise,
"Don't forget to drop a line to me, please"
As Juliet cried, in her Romeo's ear,
"Romeo, why not face the fact, my dear"

CHORUS
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, of 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, of 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

Just one of those things

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