JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS

Cole Porter

The song is best known from its appearance in the 1960 film Can-Can when it was sung by Maurice Chevalier, but it was originally written by Cole Porter for the 1935 musical Jubilee. The title, however, goes back further: Porter wrote a song with this title for the 1930 musical The New Yorkers – but it was never used, and the song we know today is completely different to his first effort. I came across Sammy Cahn’s parody years ago when he sang it on the Michael Parkinson chat show (BBC TV). 

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.
JUST THREE OF THOSE THINGS

Sammy Cahn

She had just three of those things,

Just three of those fabulous things.

They were arranged like Olympian rings –

Just three of those things.

When I asked if I might count,

I just wanted to check the amount.

And I was right in my reckoning –

Just three of those things.

If we thought a bit of that extra tit

When they started painting the sky,

We’d have been aware that she had a spare

That was there in case of a tie.

So goodbye, dear, and amen –

I’d just like to count them again.

It would have been great fun

If she had one more of those things.