Love Minus Zero No Limit
Nana Mouskouri · Other Songs - Nana Mouskouri
Without ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hour
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can't buy her
In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love, she speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all
The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge
The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers' nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night wind blows cold n' rainy
My love, she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing
Love Minus Zero No Limit
Nana Mouskouri's 1968 recording of 'Love Minus Zero No Limit' stands as a defining moment in her career, blending classical technique with the soulful jazz standards of the era. The track, a composition by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin from their 1931 musical 'Love Affair', showcases Mouskouri's exceptional vocal range and emotional depth. Her interpretation transforms the original operetta material into a lush, romantic ballad that became a staple of the Great American Songbook. This recording exemplifies her ability to bridge the gap between traditional opera and contemporary pop music, establishing her reputation as a versatile interpreter of American classics. The song remains a celebrated example of mid-century vocal jazz and continues to be widely performed in both classical and popular music settings.