Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “crying/sadness.”
- Lyricist Hal David was at a dinner party when it was announced someone wasn’t turning up, and the hostess said: ‘that’s one less bell to answer’. He went home and wrote One Less Bell to Answer that night.
- The song has been covered more than a dozen times by artists including Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Vicki Carr, Sheryl Crow and Vanessa Williams.
- Bacharach included a version of the song on his own 1971 debut album with Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom) as vocalist.
- The 5th Dimension version of the song was prominently featured in an episode of the Robert Wagner TV series, It Takes a Thief.
The video is a live television performance and I love the outfits SO MUCH! They’re like Star Trek and Xena, Warrior Princess went to a Renaissance fair together! 😀
But this group could wear potato sacks and it wouldn’t take away from their smooth, rhythmic sound–and the skills of Bacharach and David. So glad their music is timeless because no one is making music like this today.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.
~~~~~
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
One Less Bell to Answer
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry(Cry, cry, no more laughter)
Oh, I should be happy
(Oh, why did he go)
I only know that since he left
My life’s so empty
Though I try to forget
It just can’t be done
Each time the doorbell rings
I still run
I don’t know how in the world
To stop thinking of him
‘Cause I still love him so
I end each day the way I start out
Crying my heart out
Oh, one less man to pick up after
No more laughter
No more love
Since he went, oh he went away (he went away)
(One less bell to answer)
Why did he leave me
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
(One less bell to answer)
Now I’ve got one less egg to fry
One less egg to fry
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
And all I do is cry
(One less bell to answer)
Because my man told me goodbye
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
(One less bell to answer)
Somebody tell me please
Where did he go, why did he go
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
Tell me, how could he leave me
Felicia Denise, Author 
It is sad that no one is making music like this today, but I loved hearing it today. Great choice and I loved your write up on the song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of good back story on the song. Didn’t realize so many had covered it. It’s a timeless classic and sound so good by the 5th Dimension, which is the only version I know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Barbra Streisand’s version is the only other version I remember getting much air-time.
Thanks for stopping by! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Burt Bacharach sure did have some great songs! I don’t recall this one, but I’ve always enjoyed The 5th Dimension.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great song. I like the Barbra Streisand version too but I don’t know that I’ve heard any of the others. You know it’s a good song when so many people want to sing it!
LikeLiked by 1 person