I Hate This Song

We have this song on a holiday mix sung by Ella Fitzgerald. She has such a lovely voice, and it's a pretty melody, but it's the lyrics that make me shout at iTunes.

What are you Doing New Year's Eve

Maybe it’s much too early in the game
Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

I'm calling these two Charles and Mary. They see each other at parties and she is crazy about him. He is charming, handsome, a gentleman, and all the girls like him, but he only has eyes for Clara, the kind, beautiful redhead who sings like a lark and can make everyone laugh.

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve

When he first met Mary he thought she was pretty, thought he may even ask her out, but then it became clear that Mary is happiest when she's miserable. She always seems to be a victim. The others feel sorry for her and make sure to invite her to parties. Poor Mary. She's had such a hard life. She needs a little fun, so let's invite her, even though she seems to drain the color from the party a little when she arrives.

Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You’d receive

She's seen the way he looks at Clara. Clara with her creamy skin and red hair and coarse laugh. She hates Clara.

Ah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Mary springs the question on him. He's so startled that he stares at her, mind racing, wondering what to say. This is where her true talent as a master manipulator emerges. She has made sure he will accept the invitation, by telling him she expects that he won't.

Charles is a nice man. He thinks Mary is fragile. They all do. So he says yes, of course he will spend New Year's Eve with her, even though he had hoped to spend it with Clara. He hasn't asked Clara yet, because it's only bloody November 10th, but it's not going to happen now. He'll be escorting pale Mary, who will gaze at him adoringly with watery eyes. How can he let her down? He's no cad.

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve

She sees his face fall for an instant before he recovers his composure and accepts her offer. She'll be sure to tell Clara when she goes to powder her nose how nervous he was when he asked her to spend New Year's Eve with him, and how delighted she was to accept.

Bollocks.

Comments

[Eric]

Sounds like you kinda like this song to me.

[Suz]

That's what I think too Eric. "Thou dost protest too much."