Something's Gotta Give (song)

This article is about the Johnny Mercer song. For other songs with similar titles, see Something's Gotta Give (disambiguation).

"Something's Gotta Give" is a popular song with words and music by Johnny Mercer in 1954. It was published in 1955. It was written for and first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1955 musical film Daddy Long Legs.

The song playfully uses the irresistible force paradox – which asks what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object – as a metaphor for a relationship between a vivacious woman and an older, world-weary man. The man, it is implied, will give in to temptation and kiss the woman. The song's lyrics echo the plot of Daddy Long Legs, in which a reserved man in his 50s (Astaire) falls in love with a woman in her early 20s (Leslie Caron).

Popular cover versions

The biggest-selling version was recorded by The McGuire Sisters, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1955 (see 1955 in music). Sammy Davis, Jr. had a popular competing version out the same year which also made the Top 10 on the Billboard pop chart, peaking at #9. The following year Mel Tormé released a version on his Sings Fred Astaire album.

Frank Sinatra recorded the song in 1959 on Come Dance with Me! album and it was featured in the incomplete 37 minute 1962 film Something's Got to Give, which was Marilyn Monroe's last work and the film was abandoned after her death.

In 1964, Ella Fitzgerald included this song on her Verve album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook, with arrangements by Nelson Riddle.

In the game, Fallout: New Vegas, Dean Domino from the Dead Money add-on sings this song, although it's a reused version of Bing Crosby's cover which can be heard in Radio New Vegas.