One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Harold Arlen |
| Lyricist | Johnny Mercer |
| Year Written | 1943 |
| About One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) | |
| “One For The Road” was written for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three”! | |
Lyrics
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
I think you should 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 feel kind of bad, can’t you make the music
Easy 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
Session / Album Information
1956
“One For My Baby” was recorded on September 13, 1956 and was released as a single in 1957. It was arranged by Ray Conniff.
This recording released on:
- 1957: Columbia 78: 40907
- 1957: Coronet 45: KS-152
- 1957: Columbia 45: 4-40907
- 2011: Disc #6 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK6) The Columbia Singles, Volume 4
1962-1
“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was initially released in 1962 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: BPG62116 — At Carnegie Hall – Part 1 (UK)
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8705 — At Carnegie Hall – vol.1
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2L 23 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2S 823 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1993: Sony Music Special Products CD: 15056 — Tony Bennett Sings for You
- 1995: Sony Music CD: WK 75012 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
- 2011: Disc #24 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
1962-2
“One For My Baby” was recorded on August 28, 1962 and released in 2013 on the album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.
This recording released on:
- 2013: Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 (88883718042)
1964-1
“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On
1964-2
“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (reprise)” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On
1970
“One For My Baby,” part of a medley with “It Had To Be You,” was recorded on June 24, 1970 and features John Bunch on piano.
This recording released on:
- 1970: Columbia LP 12″: C 30240 — Sings His All-Time Hall Of Fame Hits
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 65405 — Sings His All-Time Hall of Fame Hits
- 2011: Disc #1 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK1) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1
1992
“One For My Baby” was recorded in June 1992 and was released that year on Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 1992: Columbia CD: CK 52965 — Perfectly Frank
- 1992: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6565 — Perfectly Frank [Japan]
- 2011: Disc #58 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK57) Perfectly Frank
2011
“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” with John Mayer was recorded in 2011 and was released that year on Duets II. It was arranged by Marion Evans.
This recording released on:
- 2011: RPM Sony 88697662532: Duets II
- 2011: RPM Sony 88697961501: Duets II (LP)
- 2011: Disc #71 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK69) Duets II