K.D. Lang (Cole Porter) _ Love For Sale

"Love for Sale" is a song from the musical The New Yorkers which opened on Broadway on December 8, 1930 and closed in May 1931 after 168 performances. The song is written from the viewpoint of a prostitute advertising "love for sale": Old love, new love, every love but true love.

The song's chorus, like many in the Great American Songbook, is written in the A-A-B-A format. However, instead of 32 bars, it has 64, plus an 8-bar tag.. The tune, using what is practically a trademark for Porter, shifts between a major and minor feeling.

Wikipedia

"Love for Sale" was originally considered in bad taste, even scandalous. In the initial Broadway production, it was performed by Kathryn Crawford, portraying a streetwalker, with three girlfriends (Waring's Three Girl Friends) as back-up singers, in front of Reuben's, a popular restaurant of the time. As a response to the criticism, the song was transferred from the white Crawford to the African American singer Elisabeth Welch, who sang with back-up singers in a scene set in front of Harlem's Cotton Club.

There is only one thing that Wikipedia appears not to be prepared to divulge and that is that the song is largely biographical and describes male prostitution not female prostitution.

Cole, was  married and the Porters shared deep emotional ties and loyal friendship, throughout their marriage, but Cole Porter preferred intimate relationships and brief physical encounters with men:

From - Gay Influence [Gay & Bisexual Men of Importance]
During the summer of 1925 Cole became completely smitten with Boris Kochno, a Russian poet, librettist and Ballet Russes dancer who was Diaghilev's collaborator. Their correspondence survives, and Porter comes across as a love-sick puppy. Soon thereafter, Porter returned to the U.S. to write shows for Broadway and Hollywood. While living in New York, Porter found that paying for sex was less complicated emotionally, and it allowed him to indulge his taste in sailors, marines and assorted prostitutes.

Love for sale

Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale

Who will buy
Who would like to sample my supply
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise
Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love
In their childish way
I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true Love for sale

Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
 Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love
 In their childish way
 I know every type of love
Better far than they
If you want the thrill of love
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every love but true Love for sale

Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love for sale
Love for sale