“I GOT PLENTY OF NUTHIN’”
From Porgy and Bess (1935)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN & DEBOSE HEYWARD
(Music by George Gershwin)
1 Oh, I got (A) plenty (B) o' nuthin' (C)
2 An’ nuthin'(C)s plenty (B) for me. (B)
3 I got (A) no (D) car, got (A) no (D) mule. (E)
4 I got (A) no (D) misery. (B)
5 De folks (F) wid plenty (B) o' plenty (B)
6 Got (A) a lock (G) on dey door (H)
7 'Fraid somebody's a-goin' to rob 'em (I)
8 While dey's out a-makin' more. (H)
9 What for? (H)
10 I got no (D) lock (G) on de door. (H)
11 (Dat's no (D) way to be.) (B)
12 Dey kin steal de rug from de floor (H)
13 Dat's o.k. wid me (B)
14 'Cause de things dat I prize, (I)
15 Like de stars in de skies,(I) all are free. (B)
16 Oh, I got (A) plenty (B) o' nuthin' (C)
17 And nuthin's (C) plenty (B) fo’ me. (B)
18 I got my gal, (J) got my song (K)
19 Got Hebben (L) de whole day long.(K)
20 (No use complainin’!) (M)
21 Got my gal, (J) got my Lawd, (N) got my song. (K)
22 Oh, I got (A) plenty (B) o' nuthin' (C)
23 And nuthin'(C)s plenty (B) for me. (B)
24 Got de sun(O), got de moon (P),
25 Got (A) de deep blue sea. (B)
26 De folks (F) wid plenty (B) o' plenty (B)
27 Got (A) to pray (Q) all de day. (Q)
28 Seems wid plenty (B) you sure got to worry (B)
29 How to keep the debbel way (Q) a-way. (Q)
30 I ain’t a-frettin’ ‘bout Hell (R)
31 'Till de time arrive. (T)
32 Never worry long as I'm well, (R)
33 Never one to strive (T)
34 To be good, to be bad-- (U)
35 What the hell! (S) I is glad I's alive. (T)
36 Oh, I got (A) plenty (B) o’ nuthin’ (C)
37 And nuthin’(C)s plenty (B) fo’ me. (B)
38 I got (A) my gal, (J) got my song, (K)
39 Got (A)Hebben (L) de whole day (Q) long. (k)
40 (No use complainin’!) (M)
41 Got (A) my gal, (J) got (A) my Lawd, (N) got (A) my song! (K)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Gershwin - SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
“SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME”
From Oh, Kay (1926)
LYRIC BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Verse)
1 There’s a saying old, (A) says that love is blind. (B)
2 Still, we’re often told, (A) "seek (C) and ye shall find." (B)
3 So I’m going to seek (C) a certain lad I’ve had in mind. (B)
4 Looking everywhere, (D) haven’t found him yet. (E)
5 He’s the big affair (D) I cannot forget. (E).
6 Only man I ever think of with regret. (E)
7 I’d like to add his initial to my monogram (F)
8 Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb? (F)
(Refrain)
1 There’s a somebody I’m longin’ to see. (A)
2 I hope that he turns out to be (A)
3 Someone who’ll watch over me. (A)
4 I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood. (B)
5 I know I could, (B) always be good (B)
6 To one who’ll watch over me. (A)
7 Although he may not be (A)
8 The man some girls think of as handsome, (C)
9 To my heart he carries the key (A)
10 Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed (D)
11 Follow my lead, (D) oh, how I need (D)
12 Someone to watch over me. (A)
(Instrumental bridge and then return to latter part of Refrain to finish)
From Oh, Kay (1926)
LYRIC BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Verse)
1 There’s a saying old, (A) says that love is blind. (B)
2 Still, we’re often told, (A) "seek (C) and ye shall find." (B)
3 So I’m going to seek (C) a certain lad I’ve had in mind. (B)
4 Looking everywhere, (D) haven’t found him yet. (E)
5 He’s the big affair (D) I cannot forget. (E).
6 Only man I ever think of with regret. (E)
7 I’d like to add his initial to my monogram (F)
8 Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb? (F)
(Refrain)
1 There’s a somebody I’m longin’ to see. (A)
2 I hope that he turns out to be (A)
3 Someone who’ll watch over me. (A)
4 I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood. (B)
5 I know I could, (B) always be good (B)
6 To one who’ll watch over me. (A)
7 Although he may not be (A)
8 The man some girls think of as handsome, (C)
9 To my heart he carries the key (A)
10 Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed (D)
11 Follow my lead, (D) oh, how I need (D)
12 Someone to watch over me. (A)
(Instrumental bridge and then return to latter part of Refrain to finish)
Gershwin - I GOT RHYTHM
“I GOT RHYTHM”
from Girl Crazy (1930)
LYRIC BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Verse)
1 Days can be sunny (A) with never a sigh-- (B)
2 Don't need what money (A) can buy. (B)
3 Birds in the trees sing (C) their dayful of song (D)
4 Why shouldn't we sing (C) along? (D)
5 I'm chipper all the day-- (E)
6 Happy with my lot. (F)
7 How do I get that way? (E)
8 Look at what I've got: (F)
(Refrain)
1 I got (A) rhythm, I got (A) music, I got (A) my man-- (B)
2 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
3 I got (A) daisies in green pastures. (D)
4 I got (A) my man-- (B)
5 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
6 Old man trouble, I don't mind (E) him-- (F)
7 You won't find (E) him (F) 'round my door. (C)
8 I got (A) starlight. (G)
9 I got (A) sweet dreams. (H)
10 I got (A) my man-- (B)
11 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
(Then Jazz SCAT Singing)
(Then repeat of last phrases of Refrain)
(Then original and interesting cataloging of previous lines
but consistent with lyricist’s words and intent as the song ends).
from Girl Crazy (1930)
LYRIC BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Verse)
1 Days can be sunny (A) with never a sigh-- (B)
2 Don't need what money (A) can buy. (B)
3 Birds in the trees sing (C) their dayful of song (D)
4 Why shouldn't we sing (C) along? (D)
5 I'm chipper all the day-- (E)
6 Happy with my lot. (F)
7 How do I get that way? (E)
8 Look at what I've got: (F)
(Refrain)
1 I got (A) rhythm, I got (A) music, I got (A) my man-- (B)
2 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
3 I got (A) daisies in green pastures. (D)
4 I got (A) my man-- (B)
5 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
6 Old man trouble, I don't mind (E) him-- (F)
7 You won't find (E) him (F) 'round my door. (C)
8 I got (A) starlight. (G)
9 I got (A) sweet dreams. (H)
10 I got (A) my man-- (B)
11 Who could ask for anything more? (C)
(Then Jazz SCAT Singing)
(Then repeat of last phrases of Refrain)
(Then original and interesting cataloging of previous lines
but consistent with lyricist’s words and intent as the song ends).
Gershwin - IT AIN'T NECESSARILY SO
“IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO”
From Porgy and Bess (1935)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
1 It ain't necessarily so. (A) It ain't necessarily so (A)
2 The t'ings dat yo' li'ble (B)
3 To read in de Bible, (B)
4 It ain't necessarily so. (A)
5 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
6 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
7 He fought Big Goliath (D)
8 Who lay down an' dieth ! (D)
9 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
10 Wadoo, (repeat phrase)
11 Zim bam boddle-oo, (repeat phrase)
12 Hoodle ah da wa da, (repeat phrase)
13 Scatty wah ! (repeat phrase) Oh yeah !...
14 Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale, (E)
15 Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale, (E)
16 Fo' he made his home in (F)
17 Dat fish's abdomen. (F)
18 Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale. (E)
19 Li'l Moses was found in a stream. (F)
20 Li'l Moses was found in a stream. (F)
21 He floated on water (G)
22 Till Ol' Pharaoh's daughter, (G)
23 She fished him, she said, from dat stream. (F)
24 Wadoo (repeat phrase)
25 Well, it ain't necessarily so (A)
26 Well, it ain't necessarily so (A)
27 Dey tells all you chillun (G)
28 De debble's a villun, (G)
29 But it ain't necessarily so! (A)
30 To get into Hebben (H)
31 Don' snap for a sebben ! (H)
32 Live clean ! Don' have no fault ! (I)
33 Oh, I takes dat gospel (J)
34 Whenever it's pos'ble, (J)
35 But wid a grain of salt. (I)
36 Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, (K)
37 Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, (K)
38 But who calls dat livin' (L)
39 When no gal will give in (L)
40 To no man what's nine hundred years ? (K)
41 I'm preachin' dis sermon to show, (A)
42 It ain't nessa (M) (repeat 3 times) ain't necessarily so ! (A)
From Porgy and Bess (1935)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
1 It ain't necessarily so. (A) It ain't necessarily so (A)
2 The t'ings dat yo' li'ble (B)
3 To read in de Bible, (B)
4 It ain't necessarily so. (A)
5 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
6 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
7 He fought Big Goliath (D)
8 Who lay down an' dieth ! (D)
9 Li'l David was small, but oh my ! (C)
10 Wadoo, (repeat phrase)
11 Zim bam boddle-oo, (repeat phrase)
12 Hoodle ah da wa da, (repeat phrase)
13 Scatty wah ! (repeat phrase) Oh yeah !...
14 Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale, (E)
15 Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale, (E)
16 Fo' he made his home in (F)
17 Dat fish's abdomen. (F)
18 Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale. (E)
19 Li'l Moses was found in a stream. (F)
20 Li'l Moses was found in a stream. (F)
21 He floated on water (G)
22 Till Ol' Pharaoh's daughter, (G)
23 She fished him, she said, from dat stream. (F)
24 Wadoo (repeat phrase)
25 Well, it ain't necessarily so (A)
26 Well, it ain't necessarily so (A)
27 Dey tells all you chillun (G)
28 De debble's a villun, (G)
29 But it ain't necessarily so! (A)
30 To get into Hebben (H)
31 Don' snap for a sebben ! (H)
32 Live clean ! Don' have no fault ! (I)
33 Oh, I takes dat gospel (J)
34 Whenever it's pos'ble, (J)
35 But wid a grain of salt. (I)
36 Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, (K)
37 Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, (K)
38 But who calls dat livin' (L)
39 When no gal will give in (L)
40 To no man what's nine hundred years ? (K)
41 I'm preachin' dis sermon to show, (A)
42 It ain't nessa (M) (repeat 3 times) ain't necessarily so ! (A)
Gershwin - LOVE IS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY
“LOVE IS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY”
From Of Thee I Sing (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 Why are people gay (A)
2 All the night and day, (A)
3 Feeling as they never felt before? (B)
4 What is the thing (C)
5 That makes them sing? (C)
6 Rich man, poor man, thief, (D)
7 Doctor, lawyer, chief (D)
8 Feel (E) a feel(E)ing that they can’t ignore; (B)
9 It plays a part (F)
10 In ev’ry heart, (F)
11 And ev’ry heart (F) is shouting “Encore.” (B)
(Refrain)
1 Love (A) is sweeping the country. (B)
2 Waves are hugging the shore. (C)
3 All the sexes (D) from Maine to Texas (D)
4 Have never known such love (A) before. (C)
5 See them billing and cooing (E)
6 Like the birdies above! (A)
7 Each girl and boy alike, (F)
8 Shouting joy alike, (F)
9 Feels that passion’ll (G)
10 Soon be national. (G)
11 Love (A) is sweeping the country-- (B)
12 There never has been so much love! (A)
(Patter)
1 Spring is in the air-- (A)
2 Each mortal loves his neighbor (B)
3 Who’s that loving pair? (A)
4 It’s Capital and Labor. (B) (Return to Refrain)
From Of Thee I Sing (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 Why are people gay (A)
2 All the night and day, (A)
3 Feeling as they never felt before? (B)
4 What is the thing (C)
5 That makes them sing? (C)
6 Rich man, poor man, thief, (D)
7 Doctor, lawyer, chief (D)
8 Feel (E) a feel(E)ing that they can’t ignore; (B)
9 It plays a part (F)
10 In ev’ry heart, (F)
11 And ev’ry heart (F) is shouting “Encore.” (B)
(Refrain)
1 Love (A) is sweeping the country. (B)
2 Waves are hugging the shore. (C)
3 All the sexes (D) from Maine to Texas (D)
4 Have never known such love (A) before. (C)
5 See them billing and cooing (E)
6 Like the birdies above! (A)
7 Each girl and boy alike, (F)
8 Shouting joy alike, (F)
9 Feels that passion’ll (G)
10 Soon be national. (G)
11 Love (A) is sweeping the country-- (B)
12 There never has been so much love! (A)
(Patter)
1 Spring is in the air-- (A)
2 Each mortal loves his neighbor (B)
3 Who’s that loving pair? (A)
4 It’s Capital and Labor. (B) (Return to Refrain)
Gershwin - OF THEE I SING
“OF THEE I SING”
From Of Thee I Sing (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Dialogue - John Wintergreen)
My friends, I beg you to bear with me for a moment
while I ask the girl of my dreams if she will become my heart’s delight.
Mary, if I’m elected President, will you marry me?
(Dialogue - Mary Turner)
If you’re elected President, I will!
(Dialogue - John Wintergreen)
Bring on the campaign song, Jack...
(Song)
1 Of thee I sing (A), baby! (B)
2 Summer, autumn, winter, spring (A), baby! (B)
3 You’re my silver lining! (C)
4 You’re my sky of blue! (D)
5 There’s a love-light shining (C)
6 Just because of you! (D)
7 Of thee I sing, (A) baby! (B)
8 You have got that certain thing, (A) baby! (B)
9 Shining star and inspiration (E)
10 Worthy of a might nation! (E)
11 Of thee I sing (A)!
From Of Thee I Sing (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(Dialogue - John Wintergreen)
My friends, I beg you to bear with me for a moment
while I ask the girl of my dreams if she will become my heart’s delight.
Mary, if I’m elected President, will you marry me?
(Dialogue - Mary Turner)
If you’re elected President, I will!
(Dialogue - John Wintergreen)
Bring on the campaign song, Jack...
(Song)
1 Of thee I sing (A), baby! (B)
2 Summer, autumn, winter, spring (A), baby! (B)
3 You’re my silver lining! (C)
4 You’re my sky of blue! (D)
5 There’s a love-light shining (C)
6 Just because of you! (D)
7 Of thee I sing, (A) baby! (B)
8 You have got that certain thing, (A) baby! (B)
9 Shining star and inspiration (E)
10 Worthy of a might nation! (E)
11 Of thee I sing (A)!
Gershwin - WHO CARES?
“WHO CARES”
From Of Thee I Sing (1930)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(VERSE) (Reporters)
1 We don’t want to know (A)
2 About your foreign policy, (B)
3 Or the latest party smear, (C)
4 Or the budget innovations, (D)
5 Or the seventeen vacations (D)
6 You have had since you’ve been here. (C)
7 Here’s the one thing (E)
8 That the people of America (F)
9 Are beside themselves to know: (A)
10 They would like to know (A) what’s doing (G)
11 On the lady who is suing (G) you --
12 Diana Devereaux! (G)
(Wintergreen)
13 Here’s some information (H)
14 I would gladly give the nation: (H)
15 I am for the true love. (I)
16 Here’s the only girl I do love! (I)
(Mary)
17 I love him and he loves me (J)
18 And that’s how it will always be, (J)
19 So what care we (J) about Miss Devereaux? (A)
(Both)
20 Who cares what the public chatters? (K)
21 Love’s the only thing that matters! (K)
(REFRAIN)
1 Who cares (A)
2 If the sky cares (A) to fall in the sea? (B)
3 Who cares (A) how history rates (C) me (B)
4 Long as your kiss intoxicates (C) me? (B)
5 Why should I care? (D)
6 Life is one long jubilee, (B)
7 So long as I care for you (E)
8 And you care for me. (B)
(EPILOGUE) (Reporters)
1 Spread the news nationwide-- (A)
2 He stands by his bride! (A)
From Of Thee I Sing (1930)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
Music by George Gershwin
(VERSE) (Reporters)
1 We don’t want to know (A)
2 About your foreign policy, (B)
3 Or the latest party smear, (C)
4 Or the budget innovations, (D)
5 Or the seventeen vacations (D)
6 You have had since you’ve been here. (C)
7 Here’s the one thing (E)
8 That the people of America (F)
9 Are beside themselves to know: (A)
10 They would like to know (A) what’s doing (G)
11 On the lady who is suing (G) you --
12 Diana Devereaux! (G)
(Wintergreen)
13 Here’s some information (H)
14 I would gladly give the nation: (H)
15 I am for the true love. (I)
16 Here’s the only girl I do love! (I)
(Mary)
17 I love him and he loves me (J)
18 And that’s how it will always be, (J)
19 So what care we (J) about Miss Devereaux? (A)
(Both)
20 Who cares what the public chatters? (K)
21 Love’s the only thing that matters! (K)
(REFRAIN)
1 Who cares (A)
2 If the sky cares (A) to fall in the sea? (B)
3 Who cares (A) how history rates (C) me (B)
4 Long as your kiss intoxicates (C) me? (B)
5 Why should I care? (D)
6 Life is one long jubilee, (B)
7 So long as I care for you (E)
8 And you care for me. (B)
(EPILOGUE) (Reporters)
1 Spread the news nationwide-- (A)
2 He stands by his bride! (A)
Saturday, April 16, 2011
CLASSIC BROADWAY LYRICISTS (1900-1965) LIST OF SERIES STUDY CLASSES
CLASSIC BROADWAY LYRICISTS (1900-1965)
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory University
OLLI at Emory: G. K. Mengert (gmenger@emory.edu)
LYRICISTS CLASSES: WILLIAM ALLEN (wm.allen@att.net)
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory University
OLLI at Emory: G. K. Mengert (gmenger@emory.edu)
LYRICISTS CLASSES: WILLIAM ALLEN (wm.allen@att.net)
COURSE 1: PIONEERS
George M Cohan (1878 - 1942)
Otto Harbach (1873 - 1963)
Noble Sissle (1889 - 1975)
Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989)
COURSE 2: MR RODGERS NEIGHBORHOOD
Lorenz Hart (1895 - 1943) -
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 - 1960)
COURSE 3: WIT & POLISH
Cole Porter (1891 - 1964)
Ira Gershwin (1896 - 1983)
Howard Dietz (1896 - 1983)
COURSE 4: GREAT PRACTITIONERS
B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva (1895 - 1950)
Dorothy Fields (1905 - 1974)
Andy Razaf (1895 - 1973)
E. Y (Yip) Harburg (1896 - 1981)
John Latouche (1917 - 1956)
Marc Blitzstein (1905 - 1964)
Harold Rome (1908 - 1993)
Maxwell Anderson (1888 - 1959)
Billy Strayhorn (1915 - 1967)
Johnny Mercer (1909 - 1976)
COURSE 5: MID-CENTURY
Betty Comden (1917 - 2006) & Adolph Green (1915 - 2002)
Frank Loesser (1910 - 1969)
Meredith Willson (1902 - 1984)
Alan Jay Lerner (1918 - 1986)
Richard Adler (1921 - ) & Jerry Ross (1926 - 1955)
Bob Merrill (1920 - 1988)
Carolyn Leigh (1926 - 1983)
Sheldon Harnick (1924- )
Lee Adams (1924 - )
Jerry Herman (1931 - )
Stephen Sondheim (1930 - )
Otto Harbach (1873 - 1963)
Noble Sissle (1889 - 1975)
Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989)
COURSE 2: MR RODGERS NEIGHBORHOOD
Lorenz Hart (1895 - 1943) -
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 - 1960)
COURSE 3: WIT & POLISH
Cole Porter (1891 - 1964)
Ira Gershwin (1896 - 1983)
Howard Dietz (1896 - 1983)
COURSE 4: GREAT PRACTITIONERS
B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva (1895 - 1950)
Dorothy Fields (1905 - 1974)
Andy Razaf (1895 - 1973)
E. Y (Yip) Harburg (1896 - 1981)
John Latouche (1917 - 1956)
Marc Blitzstein (1905 - 1964)
Harold Rome (1908 - 1993)
Maxwell Anderson (1888 - 1959)
Billy Strayhorn (1915 - 1967)
Johnny Mercer (1909 - 1976)
COURSE 5: MID-CENTURY
Betty Comden (1917 - 2006) & Adolph Green (1915 - 2002)
Frank Loesser (1910 - 1969)
Meredith Willson (1902 - 1984)
Alan Jay Lerner (1918 - 1986)
Richard Adler (1921 - ) & Jerry Ross (1926 - 1955)
Bob Merrill (1920 - 1988)
Carolyn Leigh (1926 - 1983)
Sheldon Harnick (1924- )
Lee Adams (1924 - )
Jerry Herman (1931 - )
Stephen Sondheim (1930 - )
Gershwin - EMBRACEABLE YOU
“Embraceable You"
From Girl Crazy (1930)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse HE)
1 Dozens of girls would storm up; (A)
2 I had to lock my door. (B)
3 Somehow I couldn’t warm up (A)
4 To one before. (B)
5 What was it that controlled me? (C)
6 What kept my love-life lean? (D)
7 My intuition told me (C)
8 You’d come on the scene. (D)
9 Lady, listen to the rhythm of
my heart beat, (E)
10 And you’ll get just what I mean. (D)
(Refrain HE)
1 Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you. (A)
2 Embrace me, you irreplaceable you. (A)
3 Just one look at you--my heart grew
tipsy in me; (B)
4 You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me. (B)
5 I love all the many charms about you; (C)
6 Above all I want my arms about you. (C)
7 Don’t be a naughty baby, (D)
8 Come to papa--come to papa--do! (E)
9 My sweet embraceable you. (E)
(Verse SHE)
1 I went about reciting, (A)
2 ‘Here’s one who’ll never fall!’ (B)
3 But I’m afraid the writing (A)
4 Is on the wall. (B)
5 My nose I used to turn up (C)
6 When you’d besiege my heart; (D)
7 Now I completely burn up (C)
8 When you’re slow to start. (D)
9 I’m afraid you’ll have to take
the consequences; (E)
10 You upset the apple cart. (D)
(Refrain SHE)
1 Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you. (A)
2 Embrace me, you irreplaceable you. (A)
3 In your arms I find love so delectable, dear, (B)
4 I’m afraid it isn’t quite respectable, dear. (B)
5 But hang it--come on let’s glorify love! (C)
6 Ding dang it! You’ll shout ‘Encore!” if I love. (C)
7 Don’t be a naughty papa, (D)
8 Come to baby--come to baby--do! (E)
9 My sweet embraceable you. (E)
From Girl Crazy (1930)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse HE)
1 Dozens of girls would storm up; (A)
2 I had to lock my door. (B)
3 Somehow I couldn’t warm up (A)
4 To one before. (B)
5 What was it that controlled me? (C)
6 What kept my love-life lean? (D)
7 My intuition told me (C)
8 You’d come on the scene. (D)
9 Lady, listen to the rhythm of
my heart beat, (E)
10 And you’ll get just what I mean. (D)
(Refrain HE)
1 Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you. (A)
2 Embrace me, you irreplaceable you. (A)
3 Just one look at you--my heart grew
tipsy in me; (B)
4 You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me. (B)
5 I love all the many charms about you; (C)
6 Above all I want my arms about you. (C)
7 Don’t be a naughty baby, (D)
8 Come to papa--come to papa--do! (E)
9 My sweet embraceable you. (E)
(Verse SHE)
1 I went about reciting, (A)
2 ‘Here’s one who’ll never fall!’ (B)
3 But I’m afraid the writing (A)
4 Is on the wall. (B)
5 My nose I used to turn up (C)
6 When you’d besiege my heart; (D)
7 Now I completely burn up (C)
8 When you’re slow to start. (D)
9 I’m afraid you’ll have to take
the consequences; (E)
10 You upset the apple cart. (D)
(Refrain SHE)
1 Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you. (A)
2 Embrace me, you irreplaceable you. (A)
3 In your arms I find love so delectable, dear, (B)
4 I’m afraid it isn’t quite respectable, dear. (B)
5 But hang it--come on let’s glorify love! (C)
6 Ding dang it! You’ll shout ‘Encore!” if I love. (C)
7 Don’t be a naughty papa, (D)
8 Come to baby--come to baby--do! (E)
9 My sweet embraceable you. (E)
Gershwin - BLAH, BLAH, BLAH
“BLAH, BLAH, BLAH"
from Delicious (film) (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 I’ve written you a song, (A)
2 A beautiful routine. (B)
3 (I hope you like it.) (C)
4 My technique can’t be wrong: (A)
5 I learned it from the screen. (B)
6 (I hope you like it.) (C)
7 I studied all the lines that all the lovers sing; (B)
8 Then just for you I wrote this little thing: (B)
(Refrain)
1 Blah, blah, blah, blah, moon. (A)
2 Blah, blah, blah, above; (B)
3 Blah, blah, blah, blah, croon, (A)
4 Blah, blah, blah, blah, love. (B)
5 Tra la la la, tra la la la la merry month of May; (C)
6 Tra la la la, tra la la la la ‘neath the
clouds of gray (C)
7 Blah, blah, blah, your hair, (D)
8 Blah, blah, blah, your eyes; (E)
9 Blah, blah, blah, blah, care. (D)
10 Blah, blah, blah, blah, skies. (E)
11 Tra la la la, tra la la la la la, cottage for two-- (F)
12 Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah darling, with you! (F)
from Delicious (film) (1931)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 I’ve written you a song, (A)
2 A beautiful routine. (B)
3 (I hope you like it.) (C)
4 My technique can’t be wrong: (A)
5 I learned it from the screen. (B)
6 (I hope you like it.) (C)
7 I studied all the lines that all the lovers sing; (B)
8 Then just for you I wrote this little thing: (B)
(Refrain)
1 Blah, blah, blah, blah, moon. (A)
2 Blah, blah, blah, above; (B)
3 Blah, blah, blah, blah, croon, (A)
4 Blah, blah, blah, blah, love. (B)
5 Tra la la la, tra la la la la merry month of May; (C)
6 Tra la la la, tra la la la la ‘neath the
clouds of gray (C)
7 Blah, blah, blah, your hair, (D)
8 Blah, blah, blah, your eyes; (E)
9 Blah, blah, blah, blah, care. (D)
10 Blah, blah, blah, blah, skies. (E)
11 Tra la la la, tra la la la la la, cottage for two-- (F)
12 Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah darling, with you! (F)
Gershwin - FASCINATING RHYTHM
"FASCINATING RHYTHM"
from Lady, Be Good (1924)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1. Got a little rhythm, (A) a rhythm, (A) a rhythm (A)
2. That pit-a-pats through my brain; (B)
3. So darn persistent, (C)
4. The day isn't distant (C)
5. When it'll drive me insane. (B)
6. Comes in the morning (D)
7. Without any warning, (D)
8. And hangs around me all day. (E)
9. I'll have to sneak up to it (F)
10. Someday, and speak up to it. (F)
11. I hope it listens when I say: (E)
(Refrain)
1. Fascinating Rhythm, (A)
2. You've got me on the go! (B)
3. Fascinating Rhythm, (A)
4. I'm all a-quiver. (C)
5 What a mess you're making! (D)
6 The neighbors want to know (B)
7 Why I'm always shaking (D)
8 Just like a flivver. (C)
9. Each morning I get up with the sun -- (E)
10 Start a-hopping, (F)
11 Never stopping -- (F)
12 To find at night no work has been done. (E)
13 I know that once it didn't matter (G)
14 But now you're doing wrong; (H)
15 When you start to patter (G)
16 I'm so unhappy. (I)
17 Won't you take a day off? (J)
18 Decide to run along (H)
19 Somewhere far away off -- (J)
20 And make it snappy! (I)
21 Oh, how I long to be (K)
22 The man I used to be! (K)
23 Fascinating Rhythm, (L)
24 Oh, won't you stop picking
on me? (K)
from Lady, Be Good (1924)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1. Got a little rhythm, (A) a rhythm, (A) a rhythm (A)
2. That pit-a-pats through my brain; (B)
3. So darn persistent, (C)
4. The day isn't distant (C)
5. When it'll drive me insane. (B)
6. Comes in the morning (D)
7. Without any warning, (D)
8. And hangs around me all day. (E)
9. I'll have to sneak up to it (F)
10. Someday, and speak up to it. (F)
11. I hope it listens when I say: (E)
(Refrain)
1. Fascinating Rhythm, (A)
2. You've got me on the go! (B)
3. Fascinating Rhythm, (A)
4. I'm all a-quiver. (C)
5 What a mess you're making! (D)
6 The neighbors want to know (B)
7 Why I'm always shaking (D)
8 Just like a flivver. (C)
9. Each morning I get up with the sun -- (E)
10 Start a-hopping, (F)
11 Never stopping -- (F)
12 To find at night no work has been done. (E)
13 I know that once it didn't matter (G)
14 But now you're doing wrong; (H)
15 When you start to patter (G)
16 I'm so unhappy. (I)
17 Won't you take a day off? (J)
18 Decide to run along (H)
19 Somewhere far away off -- (J)
20 And make it snappy! (I)
21 Oh, how I long to be (K)
22 The man I used to be! (K)
23 Fascinating Rhythm, (L)
24 Oh, won't you stop picking
on me? (K)
Gershwin - THE MAN I LOVE
“THE MAN I LOVE”
From Lady Be Good (1924)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 When the mellow moon begins to beam, (A)
2 Ev’ry night I dream (A) a little dream; (A)
3 And of course Prince Charming (A)
is the theme: (A)
4 The he (B) for me. (B)
5 Although I realize as well as you (C)
6 It is seldom that a dream comes true, (C)
7 To me it’s clear (D) that he’ll appear. (D)
(Refrain)
1 Some day he’ll come along, (A)
2 The man I love; (B)
3 And he’ll be big and strong, (A)
4 The man I love; (B)
5 And when he comes my way, (C)
6 I’ll do my best to make him stay. (C)
7 He’ll look at me and smile-- (D)
8 I’ll understand; (E)
9 And in a little while (D)
10 He’ll take my hand; (E)
11 And though it seems absurd, (F)
12 I know we both won’t say a word. (F)
13 Maybe I’ll met him Sunday, (G)
14 Maybe Monday (G) --maybe not; (H)
15 Still I’m sure to meet him one day-- (G)
16 Maybe Tuesday (I)
17 Will be my good news day. (I)
18 He’ll build a little home (J)
19 Just meant for two; (K)
20 From which I’ll never roam-- (J)
21 Who would? Would you? (K)
22 And so all else above, (L)
23 I’m waiting for the man I love. (L)
From Lady Be Good (1924)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)
(Verse)
1 When the mellow moon begins to beam, (A)
2 Ev’ry night I dream (A) a little dream; (A)
3 And of course Prince Charming (A)
is the theme: (A)
4 The he (B) for me. (B)
5 Although I realize as well as you (C)
6 It is seldom that a dream comes true, (C)
7 To me it’s clear (D) that he’ll appear. (D)
(Refrain)
1 Some day he’ll come along, (A)
2 The man I love; (B)
3 And he’ll be big and strong, (A)
4 The man I love; (B)
5 And when he comes my way, (C)
6 I’ll do my best to make him stay. (C)
7 He’ll look at me and smile-- (D)
8 I’ll understand; (E)
9 And in a little while (D)
10 He’ll take my hand; (E)
11 And though it seems absurd, (F)
12 I know we both won’t say a word. (F)
13 Maybe I’ll met him Sunday, (G)
14 Maybe Monday (G) --maybe not; (H)
15 Still I’m sure to meet him one day-- (G)
16 Maybe Tuesday (I)
17 Will be my good news day. (I)
18 He’ll build a little home (J)
19 Just meant for two; (K)
20 From which I’ll never roam-- (J)
21 Who would? Would you? (K)
22 And so all else above, (L)
23 I’m waiting for the man I love. (L)
LYRICAL INTRO TO THE OLLI -EMORY CLASSIC LYRICISTS (1900-1965) CLASSES
WILLIAM ALLEN
We're going to study history lyrical
We're going to study history lyrical
By methods researched and empirical
To learn how words both comic and sage
Were used on the Broadway stage
In what we'll call The Classic Age.
We'll see how lyricists put together
Words for bright and stormy weather,
Employing words as light as feather
But other times as tough as leather.
Some are famous and others not
But all retain marquee lights watt.
Chronologically, we'll begin
With an all-American cultural spin
Of Irish Cohan and Jewish Berlin,
And then we'll grab some black sizzle
From Harlem's own Noble Sissle.
Afterward we'll spend some time
Studying the contrasting rhyme
Of Misters Hart and Hammerstein.
Then we'll study the wordsmith feats
Of Ira Gershwin, Porter, and Dietz.
Then the lyrics cunning we'll comb
Of Misters Razaf, DeSylva, and Rome.
Then to Harburg, Dot Fields and Mercer.
Are we finished? Gotta say "No sir."
Still to see is the brilliant sheen
Of Loesser, Willson, Comden, Green.
And we'll catch the lyric glow
Mr Lerner gave to Mr Loewe.
We'll also have a very good time
With Adams, Harnick, young Sondheim.
Other names will come our way
From this word-rich bygone day
From words sung by Ethel Merman
To those written by Jerry Herman.
Sometimes verbally . . .
. . . acrobatic,
Sometimes comedic or dramatic,
Sometimes funny philosophical,
Sometimes searingly sociological,
Sometimes even comically illogical--
Sometimes caring,
Sometimes despairing,
Sometimes frantic,
Or sweetly romantic.
Sometimes words go on a lark
Making fun of old New York,
Or gallop out to Western land
For a tale both simple and grand,
Or sail off to a foreign shore
To explore a new and different lore.
And sometimes in lands exotic
Things can get a bit quixotic
Or even be a touch erotic
And with a twist of gin and tonic
Get delightfully demonic.
Then sometimes someone sticks
In some radical politics
And with satiric, stinging songs
Hopes to reveal society's wrongs.
Sometimes lost love deflates the worth
Of everything on this dear earth
Until a majestic soaring choir
Allows brave lyrics to inspire.
Anyway, my dear lad and lass,
This is the Broadway Lyricist Class.
So give attention, girls and boys,
To these classic verbal toys,
And during these lyrical word fun flings
Maybe we'll even learn some things!
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