Monday, May 2, 2011

Gershwin - BUT NOT FOR ME

“But Not for Me"
From Girl Crazy (1930)
LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN
(Music by George Gershwin)

    (Verse)
  1  Old man sunshine--listen, you!  (A)
  2  Never tell me dreams come true!  (A)
  3  Just try it  (B) --and I’ll start a riot. (B) 
  4  Beatrice Fairfax--don’t you dare  (C)
  5  Ever tell me he will care;  (C)
  6  I’m certain (D) it’s the final curtain. (D)
  7  I never want to hear (E)
  8  From any cheer(E)ful Pollyannas, (F)
  9  Who tell you Fate (G) Supplies a Mate-- (G)
10  It’s all bananas!  (F)


    (Refrain)
  1  They’re writing songs of love, (A) but not for me; (B)
  2  A lucky star’s above, (A) but not for me. (B)
  3  With love to lead the way,  (C)
  4  I’ve found more clouds of gray  (C)
  5  Than any Russian play (C) could guarantee.  (B)
  6  I was a fool to fall and get that way;  (C)
  7  Heigh ho!  Alas! and also, lackaday!  (C)
  8  Although I can’t dismiss (D) the mem’ry of his kiss(D)
  9  I guess he’s not for me.  (B)

Ira Gershwin’s ingenious play-on-word ending of an additional refrain from the original but normally not used in popular recordings--

  8  When ev’ry happy plot ends with the marriage knot--
  9  And there’s no knot for me

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