I was learning this one as an all-out jazz number rather than a jazz-flavored pop number. It suddenly occurred to me that this might be about a boy who fell for a girl whom he learns is really a boy.

At first I assumed it was about a girl who was a user--just hair, makeup, a dress and a smile--no person underneath it all. And I guess that it's a perfectly valid supposition and it still works well enough. But I thought in that case that it would be more appropriate to say "No one's there" rather than "She's not there." But if she turned out to be a he, then it makes sense to term it as "She's not there."

I've known a few psycho women in my time and there's always guys willing to date them or marry them. What do I say to them? Nothing. Not my business. They should know what they're getting into. How mad are any of them afterwards about it? Not mad at me at all. Why should they be? Am I supposed to warn them away from her? They'd tell me to go take a flying leap and then bust my jaw for interfering. So why would the character in this song be sore at people for not telling him--as if he would have thanked them or believed them if they had.

But picture meeting this girl whose family and friends know is actually a boy and none of them tells you even though you clearly have no idea. That might warrant one of them telling you something--at least in your mind. Especially considering the time in question--the late 50s or early 60s.

I don't know. It seemed that when that thought hit me it was like an "AHA!" moment. But who knows, who cares?