Transcription:
The first time I called the suicide hotline, I was in Great Neck, New York. I had moved to the city, but was back in my childhood home, which hadn’t been sold yet, for the night with the intention of going out at Emily Gold’s house who was having a get together with a bunch of old friends. My parent’s had dropped me off. I was all alone at the house, feeling lonely, feeling alone, feeling like no one cared, letting my thoughts slowly descend throughout the night. I didn’t have the motivation to eat any food. I didn’t have any motivation to go to the party.
Predictively, I ended up in a pretty bad state, and I called the suicide hotline. I was on hold for a while, and during that time I practiced the piano to tie myself over. Eventually, the person came on the other end of the line. She asked, “How are you? How are you feeling?” And I didn’t know what to say, so I kind of stayed silent for a long time. Then she asked, “What was that piece you were playing? Can you play it for me?” At a loss for words, I kind of just launched into it. It’s called, “One for my Baby (and One More for the Road).” It’s by Frank Sinatra. I used it a lot in high school, and was still using it to kind of temper bad times. I hope you’ll understand why.
[Verse 1]
It's quarter to 3
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 drinkin' my friends
To the end
Of a brief episode
[Chorus]
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
[Verse 2]
I got the routine
Put another nickel
In the machine
Feelin' so bad
Can't you make the music
Easy and sad?
I could tell you a lot
But you've gotta be
True to your code
[Chorus]
Just make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
[Bridge]
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 when I'm gloomy
Won't you listen to me
Till it's talked away?
[Verse 3]
Well, that's how it goes
And Joe, I know you're gettin'
Anxious to close
And thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I've found
It's gotta be drowned
Or it soon might explode
[Chorus]
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
By Mohit Sani.
“One For My Baby (and One More for the Road)” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1943. It was popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1947.
