I Whistle A Happy Tune

I Whistle A Happy Tune
music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Oscar Hammerstein II (right)

Whenever I feel afraid I hold my head erect and whistle a happy tune,
So no one will suspect I'm afraid.
While shivering in my shoes I strike a careless pose and whistle a happy tune,
And no one ever knows I'm afraid.

The result of this deception is very strange to tell,
For when I fool the people I fear I fool myself as well!

I whistle a happy tune, and every single time the happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I'm not afraid!

Make believe you're brave and the trick will take you far;
You may be as brave as you make believe you are.

I Was Doing All Right

I Was Doing All Right
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)

Used to lead a quiet existence, always had my piece of mind.
Kept Old Man Trouble at a distance;
My days were silver-lined.
Right on top of the world I sat, but look at me now---
I don't know where I'm at...

I was doing all right---nothing but rainbows in my sky;
I was doing all right till you came by.
Had no cause to complain---life was as sweet as apple pie;
Never noticed the rain till you came by.

But now, whenever you're away, can't sleep nights and suffer all the day.
I just sit and wonder if love isn't one big blunder.

But when you hold me tight, tingling all through, I feel somehow
I was doing all right---but I'm doing better than ever now!

I Was A Little Too Lonely

I Was A Little Too Lonely
music & lyric by Jay Livingston (sitting) & Raymond Evans

You promised me you'd come back, I promised to wait.
But I was a little too lonely, and you were a little too late.
Too many long nights alone, not even a date,
So I got a little too lonely, and you were a little too late.

You never did write, you never did call, when I had the blues, you were having a ball.

You thought that I'd be here to run to, now I'm gonna do you what I've been done to...

Too bad about you, my friend, it could've been great,
But I was a little too lonely, and now you're a little too late.

I Wanna Be Around

I Wanna Be Around
music & lyric by Johnny Mercer & Sadie Vimmerstedt

I wanna be around, to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks your heart;
Some somebody twice as smart as I,
A somebody who will swear to be true, like you used to do with me.
Who'll leave you to learn that mis'ry loves company, wait and see!

I wanna be around, to see how he/she does it,
When he/she breaks your heart to bits; let's see how the puzzle fits so fine.
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet;
As I sit there applauding from a front row seat,
When somebody breaks your heart like you broke mine.

I Walk A Little Faster

I Walk A Little Faster
music by Cy Coleman (lower right)
lyric by Carolyn Leigh (upper right)

Up Madison, down Park, ev'ry day and often after dark.
Pretending that we'll meet each time I turn a corner;
I walk a little faster, pretending that it's sweet,
'Cause love is around the corner.

I walk a little faster, can't begin to see my future shine as yet,
No sign, as yet, you're mine, as yet.
Rushing t'ward a face I can't divine, as yet.

Keep thumping in your wall, ouch!
Taking lots of falls,

And even though I meet at each and every corner with nothing but disaster,
I set my chin a little higher, hope a little longer, build a little stronger castle in the air,
And thinking you'll be there,
I walk a little faster...

I Used To Be Color Blind

I Used To Be Color Blind
music & lyric by Irving Berlin

How a dreary world can suddenly change to a world as bright as the evening star.
Queer what a diff'rence when your vision is clear and you see things as they really are...

I used to be color blind, but I met you and now I find
There's green in the grass, there's gold in the moon,
There's blue in the skies.

That semicircle that was always hanging about is not a storm cloud,
It's a rainbow---you brought the colors out...

Believe me, it's really true, till I met you I never knew
A setting sun could paint such beautiful skies;
I never knew there were such lovely colors and the big surprise
Is the red in your cheeks, the gold in your hair, the blue in your eyes...

I Understand

I Understand
music by Mabel Wayne (left)
lyric by Kim Gannon

Why do you go on pretending?
You know you want to be free.
Darling, you know I'll let you go, you'd do the same for me...

I understand, and darling, you are not to blame,
If when we kiss it's not the same,
I understand.

It's not your fault because your heart has changed its mind,
You didn't mean to be unkind,
I understand.

Forgetting you will be far from easy, I've grown so used to your charms.
I'll miss that old thrill and no one can fill the place here in my arms...

But if you find our love was really meant to be, then darling, hurry back to me,
And I'll understand...

I Thought About You

I Thought About You
music by Jimmy Van Heusen (left)
lyric by Sammy Cahn (right)

I took a trip on a train and I thought about you.
I passed a shadowy lane and I thought about you.
Two or three cars parked under the stars, a winding stream.
Moon shining down on some little town, and with each beam, the same old dream...

And every stop that we made, I thought about you.
And when I pulled down the shade, then I really felt blue.
I peeped through the crack, looked at the track, the one going back to you,
And what did I do? I thought about you...

I Wish I Didn't Love You So

I Wish I Didn't Love You So
music & lyric by Frank Loesser

After all this time without you, after all this time I find
That it's still no use to say to myself:
"Out of sight, out of mind."

I wish I didn't love you so.
My love for you should have ended long ago.
I wish I didn't need your kiss;
Why must your kiss torture me as long as this?

I might be smiling by now with some new tender friend,
Smiling by now with my heart on the mend.

But when I try, something in that heart says no---
You're still there; I wish I didn't love you so...

I Should Care

I Should Care
music by Paul Weston (left) & Axel Stordahl (center-next to sinatra)
lyric by Sammy Cahn (right)

I know that I should pity me but I don't because you see,
I have loved and I have learned and as far as I'm concerned...

I should care; I should go around weeping.
I should care; I should go without sleeping.

Strangely enough I sleep well, 'cept for a dream or two;
But then I count my sheep well; funny how sheep can lull you to sleep, so

I should care; I should let it upset me.
I should care but it just doesn't get me.
Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you but I should care and I do...

I should care; I should let it upset me.
I should care but it just doesn't get me.
Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you but I should care and I do...

I See Your Face Before Me

I See Your Face Before Me
music by Arthur Schwartz (left)
lyric by Howard Dietz (right)

I see your face before me crowding my every dream,
There is your face before me, you are my every theme.
It doesn't matter where you are, I can see how fair you are,
I close my eyes and there you are, always.

If you could share the magic, yes, if you could see me too.
There would be nothing tragic in all my dreams of you.
Would that my love could haunt you so, knowing I want you so,
I can't erase your beautiful face before me...

I Remember You

I Remember You
music by Victor Schertzinger (left)
lyric by Johnny Mercer (right)

Was it in Tahiti? Were we on the Nile?
Long, long ago, say an hour or so I recall that I saw your smile.

I remember you. You're the one who made my dreams come true
A few kisses ago.
I remember you. You're the one who said: "I love you, too."
I do. Didn't you know?

I remember too a distant bell and stars that fell like rain,
Out of the blue.

When my life is through and the angels ask me to recall
The thrill of them all, then I shall tell them I remember you.

I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her

I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her
music by Jimmy Van Heusen (left)
lyric by Sammy Cahn (right)

I'll only miss her when I think of her,
And I think of her all the time.
Lately I spend my day hearing her turn a phrase,
Things I find hard to praise, right now would be sublime,
Oh, the truth is...

I'll only miss her when some stranger laughs,
'Cause it's still her laugh my heart hears.
Maybe in time I guess the longing will grow the slightest bit less
And there will be moments, yes, when it disappears...

I bet I forget her completely, in a bout a hundred years...

I Only Have Eyes For You

I Only Have Eyes For You
music by Harry Warren (left)
lyric by Al Dubin (left at piano)

My love must be a kind of blind love, I can't see anyone but you.
And dear, I wonder if you find love an optical illusion, too?

Are the stars out tonight, I don't know if it's cloudy or bright?
'Cause I only have eyes for you, dear.
The moon may be high, but I can't see a thing in the sky,
'Cause I only have eyes for you.

I don't know if we're in a garden, or on a crowded avenue,
You are here, so am I, maybe millions of people pass by,
But they all disappear from view, and I only have eyes for you...

I Never Knew

I Never Knew
music by Ted Fio Rito (left)
lyric by Gus Kahn (right)

I always thought that I'd prefer single blessedness,
Thought that I'd like to stay free.
I never thought my time would come to marry,
No wedding bells for me; I've changed my mind after all,
You are the one made me fall, for...

I used to smile at all the songs that were popular;
Nothing but love in each song, I used to think those kind of songs were foolish,
Now, I admit I'm wrong.
Love songs are a part of my plan; show me the minister man, for...

I never knew I could love anybody, honey, like I'm loving you;
I couldn't realize what a pair of eyes and a baby smile could do.

I can't sleep, I can't eat.
I never knew a single soul could be so sweet.
I never knew I could love anybody, honey, like I'm loving you...

I Think Of You

I Think Of You
music by Sergei Rachmaninoff & Jack Elliott
lyric by Don Marcotte

In the hush of evening, as shadows steal across my lonely room,
I think of you, I think of you.
From afar the music of violins come softly through the gloom,
All I can do is think of you...

Though I can see you standing there before me,
And I can hear you whisper you adore me...

So when dusk is falling, I live again the loveliness we knew,
I think of you, I think of you...

I Never Had A Chance

I Never Had A Chance
music & lyric by Irving Berlin

I guess there's nothing to do and nothing to say,
But simply go on my way and call it a day.
I guess I'm ready to go right back on the shelf,
Because at last I've learned where you're concerned,
I've just been fooling myself...

I never had a chance; I thought you cared for me
But now I see I never had a chance.
I never had a chance; though you never told me so,
Somehow I know I never had a chance.

I knew we'd have to part, for I could always reach your lips
But I could never reach your heart.
My dream about romance ended in a friendly chat,
But more than that, I never had a chance...

I Miss You So

I Miss You So
music by Jimmy Henderson
lyric by Bertha Scott & Sid Robin

Those happy hours I spent with you that lovely afternoon,
Most of all, I miss you so.

Your sweet caresses, each rendezvous, your voice so soft and low.
Most of all, I miss you so.

You once filled my heart with no regrets, no fears.
Now you'll find my heart filled to the top with tears...

I'll always love you and I want you too, how much you'll never know,
Most of all, I miss you so...

I May Be Wrong

I May Be Wrong
music by Jimmy Van Heusen (left)
lyric by Edgar DeLange (right)

I may be wrong, but, I think you're wonderful!
I may be wrong, but, I think you're swell!
I like your style, say, I think you're marvelous,
But I can't see so how can I tell?

All of my shirts are unsightly, all of my ties are a crime,
If, dear, in you I've picked rightly, it's the very first time!

You came along, say, I think you're wonderful!
I think you're grand, but, I may be wrong!

I Married An Angel

I Married An Angel
music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

There's been a change in me!
I have a lovely disposition, that's very strange in me.
And life's as sweet as it can be.
I've lots of courage and ambition.
From ev'ry care my mind is free, so I repeat with your permission,
There's been a change in me!

Have you heard? I married an angel.
I'm sure that the change'll be awf'lly good for me.
Have you heard? An angel I married.
To Heaven she's carried this fellow with a kiss.

She is sweet and gentle, so it isn't strange, when I'm sentimental,
She loves me like an angel.
Now you've heard. I married an angel.
This beautiful change'll be awf'lly good for me...

I Loves You, Porgy

I Loves You, Porgy
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin (right) & DuBose Heyward (center)

I wants you to stay here, but I ain't worthy, you is too decent to understan',
For when I see him, he hypnotize me, when he take hol' of me with his hot han'.
Someday, I know he's comin' back to call me,
He's goin' to handle me and hol' me so.
It's goin' to be like dyin', Porgy, deep down inside me.
But when he calls, I know I have to go.

If dere warn't no Crown, Bess, if dere was only jus' you 'n Porgy, what den?

I loves you, Porgy, don' let him take me,
Don' let him handle me an' drive me mad.
If you kin keep me, I wants to stay here wid you forever, an' I'd be glad.

There, there, Bess, you don' need to be afraid no mo'.
You's picked up happiness an' laid yo' worries down.
You goin' to live easy, you goin' to live high.
You goin' to outshine ev'ry woman in dis town.
An' remember, when Crown come---that's my busibness, Bess!

I loves you, Porgy, don' let him take me, don' let him handle me with his hot han'.
If you kin keep me, I want to stay here wid you forever. I got my man.

What you think I is anyway, to let dat dirty houn' dog steal my woman?
If you wants to stay wid Porgy, you goin' to stay.
You got a home now, Honey, an' you got love.
So no mo' cryin', can't you understan'?
You goin' to go about yo' business, singin' 'cause you got Porgy,
You got a man.

Porgy, I's your woman, now, I is, I is...
An' I ain't never goin' nowhere 'less you shares the fun.
Want no wrinkle on your brow, nohow,
Because the sorrow of the past is all done, done, my Porgy.
Now the real happiness is jus' begun.

There's no wrinkle on my brow, nohow, an' I ain't goin',
You hear me sayin', if you ain't goin', wid you I'm stayin'.
Porgy, I's yo' woman now, I's yours forever...mornin' time and evenin' time,
Summer time an' winter time, oh, my Porgy, my man Porgy...
From dis minute I'm tellin' you, I keep dis vow...
Porgy, I's yo' woman now!

I Love You

I Love You
music by Harry Archer
lyric by Harlan Thompson

I love you, I love you, is all that I can say.
I love you, I love you, the same old words I'm saying in the same old way.
I love you, I love you, three words that are divine.
And now, my dear, I'm waiting to hear,
The words that will make you mine...

I Love You, Samantha

I Love You, Samantha
music & lyric by Cole Porter

Samantha, you're all I'll ever adore, so forgive me, do, if I say to you
What I've said so often before...

I love you, Samantha, and my love will never die.
Remember, Samantha, I'm a one-gal guy.
Together, Samantha, we could ride a star and ride it high.
Remember, Samantha, I'm a one-gal guy.

And if some distant day you decided to say, "Get along, go away, goodbye!"
Remember, Samantha, I'm a one-gal guy...

I Love Paris

I Love Paris
music & lyric by Cole Porter

Ev'ry time I look down on this timeless town,
Whether blue or gray be her skies,
Whether loud be her cheers or whether soft be her tears,
More and more do I realize...

I love Paris in the springtime,
I love Paris in the fall,
I love Paris in the winter, when it drizzles,
I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles,

I love Paris ev'ry moment, ev'ry moment of the year.
I love Paris, why, oh, why do I love Paris?
Because my love is near...

I Love Being Here With You

I Love Being Here With You
music by Bill Schluger
lyric by Peggy Lee

I love the east, I love the west;
north and south, they're both the best,
But I only want to go there as a guest,
'Cause I love being here with you.

I love the sea, I love the shore,
I love the rocks and what is more
You and they'll never be a bore,
'Cause I love being here with you.

Singing in the shower, laughing by the hour,
Life is such a breezy game.
I love all kinds of weather as long as we're together,
Oh, I love to hear you say my name!

I love good wine, fine cuisine, candle light; I love the scene,
'Cause, if you know just what I mean,
I love being here with you...

I Love A Piano

I Love A Piano
music & lyric by Irving Berlin

As a child I went wild when a band played;
How I ran to the man as his hand swayed!
Clarinets were my pets, and a slide trombone I thought was simply divine.
But today when they play, I could hiss them;
Ev'ry bar is a jar to my system;
Bit there's one musical instrument that I call mine:

I love a piano, I love a piano; I love to hear somebody play
Upon a piano, a grand piano---it simply carries me away.
I know a fine way to treat a Steinway;
I love to run my fingers o'er the keys, the ivories,

And with the pedal I love to meddle.
When Paderewski comes this way, I'm so delighted, if I'm invited
To hear that long haired genius play.

So you can keep your fiddle and your bow, give me a P-I-A-N-O, oh, oh---
I love to stop right beside an upright or a high toned baby grand.

When a green Tetrazzin' starts to warble, I grow cold as an old piece of marble;
I allude to the crude little party singer who don't know when to pause.
At her best I detest the soprano; but I run to be the one at the piano---
I always love the accompaniement, and that's because:

I love a piano, I love a piano; I love to hear somebody play
Upon a piano, a grand piano---it simply carries me away.
I know a fine way to treat a Steinway; I love to run my fingers o'er the keys, the ivories.
And with the pedal I love to meddle.
When Paderewski comes this way, I'm so delighted, if I'm invited
To hear that long haired genius play.
So you can keep your fiddle and your bow, give me a P-I-A-N-O, oh, oh---
I love to stop right beside an upright or a high toned baby grand...

I Like To Recognize The Tune

I Like To Recognize The Tune
music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

Some funny folks like to shoot off rockets, others like to pick your pockets.
Some of them kill when they feel the urge, others go in for perjury.
I, too, have a passion that I can't understand.
It comes out when I hear a band...

I like to recognize the tune, I want to savvy what the band is playing.
I keep saying, must you bury the tune?
Is it a cat meowing in the attic? Is it static?
Must you bury the tune?

A guy named Krupa plays the drums like thunder,
But the melody is six feet under.
There isn't anyone immune---
They kill Billy Roses and Puccinis. Don't be meanies. Must you bury the tune?

When that big maestro plays the songs he's written,
Poor Tchaikovsky down below starts spittin'.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the Irving Berlins and Rossinis.
Don't be meanies. Must you bury the tune?

When Ben Bernie starts his band with "Yowser",
Old Man Mose is dead, and so's Tannhauser.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the George Cohans and the Strausses.
Don't be louses. Must you bury the tune?

When Horace Heidt gives out with rhythm silky
Mrs. Roosevelt starts to dance with Wilkie.
(alternate lines) When Kay Kyser jazzes Floradora
Mrs. Roosevelt starts to dance with Borah.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill Vincent Youmans and the Gounods.
Don't be you-knows. Must you bury the tune?

When she hears those chords of Eddie Duchin's
Elsa Maxwell quivers with her two chins.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the Arthur Schwartzes and the Glinkas.
Don't be shtinkers. Must you bury the tune?

I Like To Lead When I Dance

I Like To Lead When I Dance
music by Jimmy Van Heusen (left)
lyric by Sammy Cahn (right)

A little voice keeps talking to me from way down deep inside,
What does this voice keep saying to me?
It says, "Pass this affair and pass it wide."
You may be a puzzle, but I like the way the parts fit.
Still, that little voice says, "Go get your track shoes---put them on and get!"

We could go the distance and find us romance.
I like your persistence, your style and your stance.
There's only one problem--the tiniest problem:
I like to lead when I dance!

Your eyes do the speaking, they talk with each glance.
My will power's creaking; I might take a chance,
And though you're the charmer--who could bend my armor;
I like to lead when I dance!

I like to steer the car whenever I drive and hold the door ajar when we arrive.

So if it's decided that this is romance, I'll repeat in advance:
I like to lead when I dance!

When Adam bit the fruit, as fashions were then,
He got that fig leaf suit, for which, amen!
So if it's decided I'm wearing the pants, then Eve, I'd say we've got romance:
I like to lead--I set the speed--I like to lead when I dance!

I Like The Sunrise

I Like The Sunrise
music & lyric by Duke Ellington

I like the sunrise 'cause it brings a new day,
I like a new day, it brings new hope, they say.
I like the sunrise blazing in the new sky,
Night time is weary, oh, and so am I.

Every evening I wish upon a star,
That my brand new bright tomorrow isn't very far.
When that heavy blue curtain of night is raised up high out of sight.

I like the sunrise, oh, heavenly day,
I like the sunrise, I hope it lights for me.

Every evening I wish upon a star,
That my brand new bright tomorrow isn't very far.
When that heavy blue curtain is raised up high, way out of sight.

I like the sunrise, so heavenly to see,
I like the sunrise, I hope it likes poor me...