Porter LET'S DO IT

"LET'S DO IT"
From Paris (1928)
LYRICS BY COLE PORTER
(Music by Cole Porter)
(British version as recorded by Cole Porter's
West Indian protege "Hutch" [Leslie Hutchinson]
as introduced on the stage by Irene Bordoni)

    (Verse)
1  When the little blue(A)bird, (B) who has never said a word, (B)
    starts to sing (C) "Spring, (C) spring," (C)
2  And the little blue(A)bell (D) in the bottom of the dell (D)
    starts to ring "Ding, (C) ding," (C)
3  When the little blue(A) clerk(E) in the middle of the park* (E)
4  Sing(C)s a tune (F) to the moon (F) up above-- (G)
5  It is nature, that's all, (H) simply telling us to fall (H) in love. (G)

    (First Refrain)
1  And that's(A) why Chinks do it (B).  Japs(A) do it. (B)  Up in Lap(A)land, little     Laps(A) do it.** (B)
2  Let's(C) do it (A) -- let's(C) fall in love. (D)  In Spain, the best
    upper sets(C) do it. (B)
3  Lithuanians and Letts (C) do it. (B)  Let's (C) do it (B) -- let's (C) fall in love. (D)
4  The Dutch in old Amsterdam (E) do it (B) -- not to mention the Finns. (F)
5  Folks in Siam (E) do it (B) (think of Siam(E)ese twins). (F)
6  Some Argentines (G), without means (G), do it. (B)
7  People say in Boston even beans (G) do it. (B)  Let's (C) do it (B) --
    let's(C) fall in love. (D)

    (Second Refrain)
1  Romantic sponges, they say, do it.  Oysters down in Oyster Bay do it.
2  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.  Cold Cape Cod clams against their wish do it.
3  Even lazy jellyfish do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.
4  The most refined schools of cod do it (though it shocks them, I fear).
5  Sturgeon, thank God, do it -- Have some caviar, dear.***
6  In shady shoals, Dover soles do it.
7  Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.

    (Third Refrain)
1  The dragonflies in the reeds do it.  Sentimental centipedes do it.
2  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.  Mosquitoes, heaven forbid, do it,
3  So does every katydid do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.
4  The most refined ladybugs do it when a gentleman calls.
5  Moths in your rugs do it (what's the use of moth balls?).
6  Locusts in trees do it.  Bees do it.
7  Even overeducated fleas do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.
  
    (Fourth Refrain)
1  The chimpanzees in the zoos do it.  Some courageous kangaroos do it.
2  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.  I'm sure giraffes on the sly do it.
3  Heavy hippopotami do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.
4  Old sloths who hang down from twigs do it, though the effort is great.
5  Sweet guinea pigs do it (buy a couple and wait).
6  We know that bears in pits do it.
7  Even pekineses at the Ritz do it.  Let's do it -- let's fall in love.


* Broadway version:  middle of his work

** To avoid offense, Porter soon changed these lines to what has become standard: "Birds do it.  Bees do it.  Even educated fleas do it."

***US version:
Electric eels, I might add, do it  (though it shocks 'em, I know).
Why ask if shad do it?  Waiter, bring me shad roe.




Additional lyrics from the Broadway production--

The nightingales in the dark do it.  Larks, k-razy for a lark, do it.

Canaries caged in the house do it.  When they're out of season, grouse do it.

The most sedate barnyard fouls do it when a chaticleer cries.
High-browed old owls do it (they're supposed to be wise).

Penguins in flocks on the rocks do it.
Even little cuckoos in their clocks do it.