Gershwin - I CAN'T GET STARTED

“I CAN’T GET STARTED”

From Ziegfeld Follies of 1936

LYRICS BY IRA GERSHWIN

(Music by Vernon Duke)

    (Verse) (Original 1936)

  1  I'm a glum one. (A)  It's explainable: (B)

  2  I met someone (A) unattainable. (B)

  3  Life's a bore.  (C)

  4  The world is my oyster no more. (C)

  6  All the papers (D) where I lead (E) the news (F)

  7  With my capers (D)

  8  Now will spread (E) the news: (F)

  9  Superman (G)

10  Turns out to be flash-in-the-pan. (G)

    (Refrain) (Paraphrased 1959)

  1  I've flown around the world in a plane.  (A)

  2  Designed the latest IBM brain.  (A)

  3  But lately I'm so downhearted  (B)

  4  ‘Cause I can't get started (B) with you.  (C)

  5  In Cincinnati or in Rangoon,  (D)

  6  I simply smile and all the gals swoon--  (D)

  7  Their whims I've more than just charted  (B)

  8  But I can't get started (B) with you.  (C)

  9  Oh, tell me why (E) I am no kick (F) to you-- (C)

10  I, who’d always stick (F) to you, (C)

11  Fly through thin and thick (F) to you-- (C)

12  Tell me why (E) I’m taboo. (C)

13  Each time I chanced to see Franklin D (G)

14  He always said, “Hi, Buddy” to me.  (G)

15  And with queens I’ve a la cart-ed, (B)

16  But I can’t get started (B) with you.  (C)