It's Alright With Me

By Cole Porter
1953

One of the very most sophisticated compositions by the songbook's most sophisticated composer. This gem was written for Porter's 1953 musical Can-Can, in which it was introduced by Peter Cookson. Porter's melody line virtually embodies a combination of smoldering longing and wistful regret, as the lyric expresses the subject's acceptance of his attraction to the object of his desire, even though he admits that he is still in love with someone else. A complex and beautiful song.

Lyrics:

It's the wrong time and the wrong place
Though your face is charming, it's the wrong face
It's not her face, but such a charming face
And it's alright with me

It's the wrong song with the wrong style
Though your smile is lovely, it's the wrong smile
It's not her smile, but such a lovely smile
That it's alright with me

You can't know how happy I am we met
I'm strangely attracted to you
There's someone I'm trying so hard to forget
Don't you wanna forget someone too

It's the wrong game with the wrong chips
Though your lips are tempting, they're the wrong lips
They're not her lips, but they're such tempting lips
That it's all right with me

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Tom Waits
Mel Torme
Erroll Garner