I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course, I do
But I get along without you very well

I’ve forgotten you
Just like I should
Of course, I have
Except to hear your name
Or someone’s laugh that is the same
But I’ve forgotten you just like I should

What a guy
What a fool am I
To think my breaking heart
Could kid the moon

What’s in store?
Should I phone once more?
No, it’s best that I stick to my tune

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except perhaps in spring
But I should never think of spring
For that would surely break my heart in two
-Written by Hoagy Carmichael
-Inspired by poem by Jane Brown Thompson
-Recorded many times but perhaps most famously by Chet Baker and most successfully by Red Norvo

This is another song that is featured in FLORA AND SON. It clearly isn’t an original song as Hoagy Carmichael was born in 1899. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” isn’t his most famous song. That is probably “Stardust” famously recorded by Willie Nelson and many, many, many others or “Georgia on My Mind” made famous by Ray Charles.

If that wasn’t enough to make Hoagy Carmichael a legend, Ian Fleming described James Bond as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

“I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” also has a fascinating history. Check this from The Wiki:

“I Get Along Without You Very Well” is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson

Thompson’s identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as “J.B.”. Carmichael noted J.B.’s name in the song’s sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify “J.B.”. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell.

What an amazing story! And an amazing song!

But how does it fit into the movie?

I’m not going to get into the full story of the movie, but to understand the scene blow it should be sufficient for you to know that the movie is about Flora, who takes up guitar to win her ex-husband back. She starts taking online guitar lessons from Jeff. This scene is the interaction from their second lesson.

From the screenplay and no apologies to any James Blunt songs:

INT. FLORA’S TINY KITCHEN – LATER 31
Flora has changed into clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, and put on a lot of lipstick and eye shadow on. She pours, lights up, and waits by the computer. Checks watch. Then she suddenly remembers about the No Wine Rule, and moves the bottle and glass behind the well out of frame to the side of the screen. She picks up her guitar and readies herself. Takes a swig. She clicks on her email and opens a Zoom session. Jeff is waiting there.

FLORA
Hiya. I can’t believe you got back to me.
JEFF
You’re a challenge. I like challenges. Shall we begin?
FLORA
Let’s rock!
She picks up her guitar.
JEFF
Let’s find out who you are, Flora. What’s your all time favorite song?
She thinks hard.
FLORA
I’m more into dance music. Oh, “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.
Jeff’s face falls.
JEFF
Okay, we may have a problem here.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
That’s not an acceptable song.
FLORA
It’s catchy.

JEFF
So was Cholera.
FLORA
I don’t know that one.
JEFF
If you’re going to learn how to play songs we’ll have to raise the bar a little bit.
FLORA
So what have you written then?
JEFF
I’m a teacher.
FLORA
Exactly. So shut up, criticizing Blunt. YOU do it.
JEFF
Do what?
FLORA
Write a song that reaches millions of people’s hearts. And makes them weep.
JEFF
Making people cry isn’t an achievement. Bullies do it every day.
FLORA
Let’s hear one of your songs then.
JEFF
We’re here about you. Not me.
FLORA
Jesus, it’s a guitar lesson, not a therapy session.
JEFF
Wrong. Lyrics have to be more than “You’re beautiful”. Or a series of platitudes to lonely women telling them how great they are. That’s not a love song. It’s a self help group.

FLORA
You don’t know the first thing about women if you think that.
JEFF
I know that grown up women don’t just want to hear how stunning they are, like some creep in a bar trying to pick them up.
FLORA
Jesus Christ, It’s just a bloody.. Song.
JEFF
No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.
FLORA
Oh no. Are you some sort of Christian evangelist dude?
Suddenly, and frustrated, Jeff begins plucking a familiar song. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Hoagy Carmichael.
He sings the first verse and chorus. He is a fantastic singer.
JEFF
I get along without you very well
Of course I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course I do
But I get along without you very well

The chord rings out. In song terms, this is a slam dunk. No question. Flora is blown away. Also, we have travelled round him, and now, all screens are gone, and they are sitting fact to face across her kitchen table.
FLORA
Jesus Christ.
JEFF
Right?

FLORA
That’s unbelievable.
JEFF
So simple. So direct. Nothing about beauty.
FLORA
You are a genius. What are you doing hanging around the internet teaching muppets like me with a song like that?
He starts to realize she thinks he wrote that. He lets it go for a minute.
JEFF
Do you really like it?
FLORA
It’s stunning.
JEFF
It’s never just “A song”. It’s three and half minutes in which time shuts down. It’s all we’ve got.
She feels his passion for this.
FLORA
You’ve got to get that out there into the world.
JEFF
Do you think it would sell like “You’re Beautiful”?
FLORA
Maybe not as much as that. I still like the other song too. Is that allowed?
JEFF
No! That’s Stockholm syndrome. Don’t worry- we’ll de-brainwash you. By the time you’ve finished here you just won’t have time for childish jingles and cliches.