Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)

Things have come to a pretty pass---our romance is growing flat,
For you like this and the other, while I go for this and that.
Goodness knows what the end will be; oh, I don't know where I'm at...
It looks as if we two will never be one.
Something must be done...

You say eether and I say eyether, you say neether and I say nyther;
Eether, eyether, neether, nyther---let's call the whole thing off!

You like potato and I like po-tah-to; you like tomato and I like to-mah-to;
Potato, po-tah-to, tomato, to-mah-to---let's call the whole thing off!

But oh, if we call the whole thing off, then we must part,
And oh, if we ever part then that might break my heart.

So, if you like pajamas and I like pa-jah-mas,
I'll wear pajamas and give up pa-jah-mas.
For we know we need each other, so we better call the calling off off.
Let's call the whole thing off!

You say laughter and I say lawfter, you say after and I say awfter;
Laughter, lawfter, after, awfter---let's call the whole thing off!
You like vanilla and I like vanella, you, sa'sparilla and I sa'sparella;
Vanilla, vanella, choc'late, strawb'ry---let's call the whole thing off!

But oh, if we call the whole thing off, then we must part.
And oh, if we ever part, then that would break my heart.

So, if you go for oysters and I go for ersters,
I'll order oysters and cancel the ersters.
For we know we need each other, so we better call the calling off off!
Let's call the whole thing off!

I say father and you say pater, I say mother and you say mater;
Father, mother, auntie, uncle---let's call the whole thing off!
I like banana and you like ba-nahn-ah, I say Havana and I get Ha-vahn-ah;
Banana, ba-nahn-ah, Havana, Ha-vahn-ah---never a happy medium!