Frank Sinatra - Soliloquy Lyrics






I wonder what he'll think of me
I guess he'll call me "the old man"
I guess he'll think I can lick
Ev'ry other fella's father
Well, I can!

I bet that he turns out to be
The spittin' image of his dad
But he'll have more common sense
Than his puddin'-headed father ever had

I'll teach him to wrassle and dive through a wave
When we go in the morning for our swim
His mother can teach him the way to behave
But she won't make a sissy out o' him
Not him! Not my boy! Not Bill!

Bill. I will see that he is named after me, I will.
My boy, Bill, he'll be tall and tough as a tree, will Bill!
Like a tree he'll grow with his head held high
And his feet planted firm on the ground
And you won't see nobody dare to try to boss or toss him around!
No pot-bellied, baggy-eyed bully'll boss him around

I don't give a damn what he does as long as he does what he likes!
He can sit on his tail or work on a rail with a hammer and hammer in spikes!
He can ferry a boat on a river or peddle a pack on his back
Or work up and down the streets of a town with a whip and a horse and a hack

He can haul a scow along a canal, run a cow around a corral
Or maybe bark for a carousel
Of course, it takes talent to do that well

He might be a champ of the heavyweights or a fella that sells you glue
Or President of the United States, that'd be all right, too

[Spoken:]
His mother would like that, but he wouldn't be President unless he wanted to be

Not Bill!

My boy, Bill he'll be tall and as tough as a tree, will Bill
Like a tree he'll grow with his head held high
And his feet planted firm on the ground
And you won't see nobody dare to try to boss or toss him around!
No fat-bottomed, flabby-faced, pot-bellied, baggy-eyed bully'll boss him around

And I'll be damned if he'll marry his boss's daughter
A skinny-lipped virgin with blood like water
Who'll give him a peck and call it a kiss
And look in his eyes through a lorgnette
Hey, why am I takin' on like this?
My kid ain't even been born yet!

I can see him when he's seventeen or so and startin' in to go with a girl
I can give him lots of pointers, very sound, on the way to get 'round any girl
I can tell him
Wait a minute!
Could it be?
What the hell!
What if he is a girl?
You can have fun with a son
But you got to be a father to a girl

She mighn't be so bad,at that
A kid with ribbons in her hair!
A kind of neat and petite little tin-type of her mother!
What a pair!

My little girl, pink and white as peaches and cream is she
My little girl is half again as bright as girls were meant to be!
Dozens of boys pursue her, many a likely lad
Does what he can to woo her from her faithful dad

She has a few pink and white young fellas of two and three
But my little girl gets hungry ev'ry night and she comes home to me!

I gotta get ready before she comes
Gotta make certain that she won't be dragged up in slums with a lot o' bums like me
She's gotta be sheltered and fed and dressed in the best that money can buy!
I never knew how to get money but, I'll try, by God! I'll try!
I'll go out and make it or steal it
Or take it or die!





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Frank Sinatra Soliloquy Comments
  1. M.... B....

    This is one of the weirdest songs. I found it one day by accident in some really old music.

  2. M.... C....

    1st part is from 00:00 to 2:57 the Part 2 is from 3:30 to 4:50 part 3 from 5:30 to the end

  3. E.... M....

    It kills me he walked out of this film because of the need to film everything twice. He was afraid he couldn’t do it the same way twice. What a pity not to have his full performance of a role he was born to play.

  4. J.... D....

    Thank you for posting this and including the lyrics.

  5. T.... ....

    I heard so much about frank but hearing him for the first time Seth Rogan has grabbed sooo much inspiration.

  6. J.... O....

    Frank's Reprise years are his richest

  7. R.... L....

    You can tell Sinatra loves this song.

  8. k.... t....

    definitely my favorite version of this song. love frank sinatra

  9. L.... g....

    Like musical and theatratical , telling a story...

  10. N.... M....

    I would have thought his version of Soliloquy is possibly his BEST song and only the song has ALL of his essence.

  11. R.... L....

    I remember we caught this on the radio in the car, all of us had WTF looks on our faces :P

  12. A.... ....

    One of the most ridiculous songs of all time, but at the same time kinda sad for some reason.

    A.... ....

    what do you mean by ridiculous?

  13. M.... P....

    no one.. ever again.. no one.. If Albert Einstein and Beethoven and Rachmaninoff and Picasso and Mona Lisa and God had a kid all together, he would have Sinatra's voice..

    M.... P....

    what about Puccini!!

  14. B.... C....

    Frank at his best!

  15. G.... W....

    This song never meant so much to me as it does now. Mainly because I will be a father for the first time.

  16. B.... F....

    Even not well he can turn out a good performance, what a "trooper" Listen to the version he does in "The Reprise collection" absolutely outstanding. Also on YouTube.
    Gordon McCrae was a great pro' operetta singer not a popular jazz inflected artist with the incredible repertoire of the guvnor.
    Comparisons are odious

  17. J.... B....

    Best story teller ever .

  18. r.... ....

    I'm really just blown away by this performance. So heart felt... and at the end he is belting it out solidly. It's SO impressive. What a voice...and what wonderful phrasing. Nobody else else like Frank.. just incredible.

  19. d.... ....

    This is what we would have gotten if he hadn't walked off the set of the film version of Carousel.

  20. o.... ....

    The greatest in history singing what is probably the best singular number from the musical theatre genre ever.

    o.... ....

    These are the most touching, sweetest lyrics anyone will ever hear. Leave it to Oscar Hammerstein! Just got over my tears listening to Gordon MacRae sing it!

    o.... ....

    +jan wintz In some ways it is a touching song, but it is also dripping with darkness, irony and foreshadowing, which is what makes it one of the greatest songs in Broadway history.

  21. E.... T....

    This was a real surprise to me, Sinatra's rendition of this great piece of music is quite simply brilliant. What a voice!

    E.... T....

    Not as vocally "correct" as John Raitt or Gordon MacRae, but definitely a better "acting" job than either of them.

  22. A.... G....

    Sinatra treats this as a story, which of course he did to every song he ever sang. Others who've sung it may have better voices but no one can get to the heart of the lyrics like Frank and he wrings every ounce of emotion in a superlative performance.

  23. A.... C....

    SOME PERFORMANCE

  24. S.... S....

    Richard yes...it was like winning the lottery.  I was lucky enough to have been born at a time (b.1943) when there were greats.  My father was born in New York City in 1905 and personally knew Jolsen and Ted Dresier (`An American Tragedy`), Bennett Cerf and others.  I was starstruck from a young age and connived to meet my idol Judy Garland when she was performing at Westchester County at the Playhouse. I snuck backstage and was severely reprimanded by the goddess who looked old and tired.  Marlene Dietrich and James Garner were waiting in the queue to take her to dinner.  Dietrich talked to me.  She was wearing the most divine haute couture dress and coat.  I met Sinatra once with Orson Welles when the American Film Institute was honouring Orson.  I was an extra in Orson`s last film shot at the home of Peter Bogdanovich.  This rendition by Frank is just so much better than Gordon`s.  Frank is the Van Gogh of singers...his approach to a song...the shading..the nuance...breathtaking.  The Ephrons were signed to produce the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and this might have turned off Sinatra.  i interviewed Henry Ephron for my book about Marilyn Monroe.  He was a common type producer and would have got up Sinatra`s nose.  You never know..perhaps Frank had asked Oscar and Rodgers to replace him.  Adored Richard Rodgers...met him in the late Sixties at the premiere of `2001`.  John Springer, the publicist, introduced us.  Rodgers specifically wanted an introduction.  So did Henry Fonda.  My 5 mins of fame.  barbara Streisand is probably one of the few relatively `new` talents who comes up to scratch.  She was amazing on Broadway in `Funny Girl`.  I snuck in and watched in from the mezzanine.  Then, full of brash, I went backstage and told her she`d soon be the hottest thing on Broadway.  I recall seeing on YouTube Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters impersonate Astaire and Rogers in `Top Hat`.  Peters was okay but Martin is a klutz.  Noone can touch Fred and Ginger except possibly Michael Jackson.  I used to do the Joe Franklin Memory Lane shows and acknowledged my affection for Astaire on one of the shows.  That said, I sat next to Gene Kelly (and publicist Rupert Allan) at the Los Angeles County Museum when they were screening `Singing in the Rain`.
    I don`t like the film and I don`t like Kelly.  I criticize the film in `Down With Myth America` (New York Times 24 May 1970) I plan to upload sound bites from the interview on You Tube.  Watch this space.

    S.... S....

    @Sandra Shevey van gogh

    S.... S....

    Sandra Shevey ,

    S.... S....

    Sandra Shevey 9

  25. b.... ....

    If you don't feel this way then you shouldn't be a father.

  26. j.... ....

    Coming off of The Concert Sinatra, an amazing cover of the song from Carousel. Even though Gordon MacRae's version is good, Sinatra does it better. Why? because he was the best ever in music. They don't make great songs like this anymore nowadays. Nowadays it's the same ol' shit over and over: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, Meek Mill, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Jason Derulo, One Direction, and Maroon 5. Time to trade in those "artists" for the real artists of music: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Elvis, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Frank Zappa.

    j.... ....

    The term "cover" belongs in the world of rock and roll, only. In that world there is only one version of a song, the first, usually by the singer/songwriter, and any other performance is a "cover". In the world of standards and music from the musical theatre the original performer is usually forgotten, until recently--but the song becomes part of the catalog to be preformed far and wide.

  27. R.... M....

    To have lived at the same time as Frank, is like winning the lottery

  28. A.... L....

    Frank does a better interpretation I think on a live video on Youtube from 1991, he's older and more dramatic, which I liked more. I've meant to listen to these for a while as it's one of my favourite songs and I've also watched John Raitt's original and a good performance by Glen Campbell, but here's the however....... nobody sang this as well as Gordon MacRae, not even Frank.

    A.... L....

    +Arkle Sparkle Hi!
    Delighted to hear from you! Wish I could remember on which video I have replied to your comments. Was it Gordon MacRae singing the gorgeous Desert Song?
    Are you in the U.S. Arkle Sparkle?
    You might enjoy Sinatra's Lost In The Stars...
    ☺ Jan

    A.... L....

    +jan wintz No, England Jan. The video is Soliloquy. I have so many recordings by Frank that I'm not sure without checking if I have Lost in the Stars but again, I have a superb recording by Gordon MacRae, it's a great song not often heard.

    A.... L....

    +Arkle Sparkle Hi!
    Do you mean you have Gordon MacRae singing Lost in the Stars?? On youtube I have listened to it by Sinatra (I've heard him do it several times over the years, and I love his interpretation) and Judy Garland.

    I first heard it by Tony Bennett, from his mid-50s album,
    TONY. (We had the album in our home; I was twelve years old.) My favorite recording of Lost In The Stars is this one from TONY. Frank Sinatra's is a very, very close second! It has such profoundly moving lyrics (Kurt Weill). Yes, it is not often heard - unfortunate, I think.

    By the way, Arkle Sparkle, all three recordings are here on youtube, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra AND Tony Bennett from his album TONY.
    Jan

    A.... L....

    +jan wintz Thanks, I'll listen to them. Gordon MacRae's version is available on his album 'In Concert' on Capitol records which I downloaded from Amazon. Tony Bennett is amazing, I had his latest album which I requested as a Christmas present of Jerome Kern songs, still recording at 89. Sounding slightly rusty now but still wonderful.

    A.... L....

    +Arkle Sparkle Oh, yes! To look at him, who could guess Tony Bennett 89! I've gotten a real kick out of his stuff with Lady Gaga! Prior to their collaboration I only knew of Lady Gaga by name and that she's a rock singer. I think she's surprisingly good at jazz, although not an Anita O'Day or Ella!

    What a wonderful gift from Santa, Jerome Kern/Tony Bennett, ter-RIF-ic!!! SOME ALBUM!!

    Thank you for the tip, Arkle Sparkle, re Gordon MacRae / Lost In The Stars; can't wait to locate it!!
    Jan

  29. k.... ....

    This is such an amazing song.

    k.... ....

    Isn't it!!!

  30. J.... D....

    This song reminds me of my Dad too. I cry everytime I hear it. My Dad sang "My Little Girl" to me,

  31. A.... R....

    Sinatra was originally cast for theBilly Bigelow part that MacRae ended up with. Sinatra walked out on the movie before it bagan. The reason is obscure.

    A.... R....

    1) Ava Gardner 2) they filmed the movie it Todd-AO and standard 35mm Cinemascope, so each scene had to shot twice, and Frank objected to making two movies and being paid for one.

    A.... R....

    You're close, John. In 1956, Fox was introducing a new version of its 35 mm CinemaScope called CinemaScope 55. You can see in the introduction of both "Carousel" and "The King and I," but the studio never ended up releasing either film in the 55 mm process, just CinemaScope. The same scenario happened tyear before when Magna shot "Oklahoma!"' in both CinemaScope and Todd-AO. You're right about Sinattra insisting on getting paid twice and walking out on the film.

  32. l.... ....

    you might also like bowie :david bowie in berthold brechts baal . give it a shot

  33. r.... s....

    of course that one guy..

  34. K.... ....

    Frank Sinatra's version of this song is my absolute favourite solo musical number of all time. Hands-down.

  35. P.... P....

    One of Old Blue Eyes best tracks in my humble opinion. Haven't heard it for years - thanks!

  36. R.... R....

    I love Frank, but I prefer's Gordon MacRae's version of this song. Frank still does an amazing job, though, as only Frank could.

  37. p.... ....

    wow! great sinatra singing. thanks!

  38. i.... ....

    I agree but it's Your not You're sorry :/.

  39. s.... ....

    If Sinatra isn't here in his prime, don't know when. He made GREAT recordings after the 50s!!

  40. p.... ....

    @TwitTwoow HAHA- Your're such an ANGRY person are'nt you?

  41. D.... B....

    Ma Dads song folks ,,enjoy please

  42. p.... ....

    @TwitTwoow Stop being such a teenage winebag- people can write what they want- if you don't like it then don't read it. Your handle says it all

  43. p.... ....

    What an awesome song! I Love it!

  44. f.... ....

    Who put dislike on this. Tell me who you are and I will personally come round and fight you.

  45. P.... ....

    Even at my ripe age of 16, I can safely say this is one of my favorite songs of all time. Sinatra was beyond a legend; he was a phenomena. And also my favorite musician of all time. And this is my favorite song, probably.

  46. C.... ....

    Trying to have a baby.......and this song keeps poping into my head...I think it's how every potential father feels..

  47. C.... ....

    Trying to have a baby.......and this song keeps poping into my head...I think it's how every potential father feels..

  48. C.... ....

    Trying to have a baby.......and this song keeps poping into my head...I think it's how every potential father feels..

  49. c.... ....

    Recorded in 63. Truly wonderful.

  50. S.... P....

    i love this song

  51. A.... R....

    Truly wonderful. What year was it recorded in?

    A.... R....

    Aben Rudy 1963

  52. A.... V....

    This is the best of sinatra.

  53. P.... S....

    Simply glorious.