Friday, May 19, 2006

Liza



Liza
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)


Moon shinin' on the river---come along, my Liza!
Breeze singin' through the treetops---come along, my Liza!
Somethin' mighty sweet I want to whisper sweet and low,
That you ought to know, my Liza!
I get lonesome, honey, when I'm alone so long;
Don't make me wait; don't hesitate;
Come and hear my song:

Liza, Liza, skies are gray, but if you smile on me all the clouds'll roll away.
Liza, Liza, don't delay, come, keep me company, and the clouds'll roll away.

See the honeymoon a-shinin' down;
We should make a date with Parson Brown.

So, Liza, Liza, name the day when you'll belong to me
And the clouds'll roll away...

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Little White Lies



Little White Lies
music & lyric by Walter Donaldson

'Twas just a night like this, filled with bliss, you led my heart astray.
'Twas just a real sweet chance, to learn romance,
In a perfect way, it was the end of a perfect day,
Say---

The moon was all aglow and heaven was in your eyes,
The night that you told me, those little white lies.
The stars all seemed to know, that you didn't mean all those sighs,
The night that you told me, those little white lies.

I try but there's no forgetting when ev'ning appears,
I sigh but there's no regretting in spite of my tears.

]The devil was in your heart, but heaven was in your eyes,
The night that you told me, those little white lies!

I try but there's no forgetting when ev'ning appears,
I sigh but there's no regretting in spite of my tears.

Who wouldn't believe those lips, who ever could doubt those eyes?
The night that you told me, those little white lies!

Monday, May 15, 2006

Little Jazz Bird



Little Jazz Bird
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)


Into a cabaret, one fatal day, a little songbird flew;
Found it so very gay, he thought he'd stay, just to get a bird's-eye view.
When he heard the jazz band playing, he was happy as a lark.
To each measure he kept swaying, and he stayed till after dark.
Then back to the land he knew, thrilled through and through, he sailed on in the air.
Called all the other birds, and in these words started winging then and there:

I'm a little jazz bird, and I'm telling you to be one, too.
For a little jazz bird is in heaven when it's singing "blue."
I say it with regret, but you're out of date;
You ain't heard nothin' yet, till you syncopate.

When the world is rough, you wll find your troubles all have flown,
If you warble your stuff like the moaning of a saxophone.
Just try my recipe, and I'm sure you'll agree
That a little jazz bird is the only kind of bird to be...

Little Girl Blue




Little Girl Blue
lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

When I was very young the world was younger than I, as merry as a carousel.
The circus tents were strung with ev'ry star in the sky
Above the ring I loved so well.
Now the young world has grown old.
Gone are the tinsel and gold...

Sit there and count your fingers.
What can you do?
Old girl, you're through.
Sit there and count your little fingers, unlucky little girl blue.

Sit there and count the raindrops falling on you.
It's time you knew all you can count on are the raindrops that fall on little girl blue.

No use, old girl, you may as well surrender.
Your hope is getting slender.
Why won't somebody send a tender Blue Boy,
To cheer up little girl blue?

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Like Someone In Love



Like Someone In Love
music by Jimmy Van Heusen (left)
lyric by Johnny Burke (right)

Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, hearing guitars, like someone in love.
Lately the things I do astound me, mostly whenever you're around me.
Lately, I seem to walk as though I had wings,
Bump into things, like someone in love.

Each time I look at you, I'm limp as a glove,
And feeling like someone in love

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries



Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
muic by Ray Henderson (left)
lyric by Lew Brown (center in photo right)

People are queer, they're always crowing, scrambling and rushing about;
Why don't they stop someday, address themselves this way?
Why are we here? Where are we going?
It's time that we found out.
We're not here to stay; we're on a short holiday...

Life is just a bowl of cherries.
Don't take it serious; life's too mysterious.
You work, you save, you worry so but you can't take your dough
When you go, go, go.

So keep repeating it's the berries, the strongest oak must fall,
The sweet things in life, to you were just loaned so how can you lose
What you've never owned?
Life is just a bowl of cherries, so live and laugh at it all.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Life Is A Song



Life Is A Song
music by Fred Ahlert (left)
lyric by Joe Young

Life is a song, let's sing it together.
Let's take our hearts and dip them in rhyme,
Let's learn the words, let's learn the music together,
Hoping the song lasts for a long, long time.

Life is a song that goes on forever.
Love's old refrain can never go wrong.
Let's strike the note Mendelssohn wrote concerning spring weather,
Let's sing together and make life a song.

Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk


Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk
music & lyric by Irving Berlin

Some couples go for a buggy ride when they start caring a lot.
Others will bicycle side by side out to some romantic spot.
But when you haven't a sou, there's only one thing to do...

Let's take an old-fashioned walk; I'm just bursting with talk---
What a tale could be told if we went for an old-fashioned walk!
Let's take a stroll through the park, down a lane where it's dark,
And a heart that's controlled may relax on an old-fashioned walk.

I know for a couple who seem to be miles apart,
There's nothing like walking and having a heart-to-heart.

I know a girl who declined, couldn't make up her mind---
She was wrapped up and sold coming home from an old-fashioned walk.

I used to dream of a millionaire handsome and rich from the States,
Taking me out for a breath of air, saying, "The carriage awaits."
But since you haven't a sou, and I have nothing to do---

Let's take an old-fashioned walk; I'm just bursting with talk---
What a tale could be told if we went for an old-fashioned walk!
Let's take a stroll through the park, down a lane where it's dark,
And a heart that's controlled may relax on an old-fashioned walk.

I know for a couple who seem to be miles apart,
There's nothing like walking and having a heart-to-heart.

I know a girl who declined, couldn't make up her mind---
She was wrapped up and sold coming home from an old-fashioned walk...

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Let's Take A Walk Around The Block





Let's Take A Walk Around The Block
music by Harold Arlen (left)
lyric by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg (center)& Ira Gershwin (right)

I never travel'd further north than Van Cortlandt Park,
And never further south than the Aquarium; I've seen the charm of Jersey City
But, first let me remark, I saw it from the Empire State Solarium.
But I've been putting nickels in the Postal Savings Bank and,
When those nickels pile up, we can toddle off in swank;
And I don't mean an ordinary Cook's tour, I mean a "cabin deluxe" tour.

Someday we'll go places, new lands and new faces,
The day we quit punching the clock.
The future looks pleasant, but, at present, let's take a walk around the block.

You're just the companion I want at Grand Canyon,
For throwing old blades down the rock;
The money we have'll go for travel, meantime, let's walk around the block.

Gangway! We'll begin, when our ship comes in; you'll sit on my lap,
All over the map.
To London in Maytime, to Venice in playtime, to Paris in time for a frock;
To Boston in bean-time, darling, meantime, let's take a walk around the block.

In winter at Christmas we'll visit the Isthmus and see how they lock up a lock;
And then in Caracas, on a jackass we'll take a ride around the block.
I give you my promise we'll visit St. Thomas and then at the Virgins we'll dock.

The Virgins can wait, sir, it grows late, sir, let's take a walk around the block!

Onward to Cathay, then to Mandalay, then Vladivostok!
Where Bolsheviks flock!
We'll send the folks cables, accumulate labels, buy souvenirs till we're in hock,
Right now we are flat in old Manhattan, let's take a walk around the block.

Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep



Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep
music & lyric by Herman Hupfeld

No more company to feed.
No more papers left to read.
What's to do about it?
Let's put out the lights and go to sleep.

No more anything to drink.
Leave those dishes in the sink.
What's to do about it?
Simply nighty-night and go to sleep.

You're waiting now for me to say: "I love you more and more, dear.
You're looking younger ev'ry day, you never were so sweet before, dear."

No more money in the bank.
No cute baby we can spank.
What's to do about it?
Let's put out the lights and go to sleep.

Let's Kiss And Make Up



Let's Kiss And Make Up
music by George Gershwin (left)
lyric by Ira Gershwin
(right)

I didn't mean to start a scene to make you sigh.
Hope to die!
It's most immoral for us to quarrel.
Why can't we both agree?
Don't you know Ben Franklin wrote about this thing at length---
On the proposition that in union there is strength?
Why raise a storm up?
If we just warm up, the blues will slumber;
We'll have their number!

Let's kiss and make up; come on! Let's wake up,
For I need you and you need me.
Let's kiss and make up; no use to break up when we can live in harmony.

I'll give you your way, you'll give me my way, and out the doorway,
Our cares will fly 'way.
If we'd be happy, the way is clear:

Let's kiss and make up; no use to break up; we need each other, dear!

Monday, May 08, 2006

Let's Get Lost




Let's Get Lost
music by Jimmy McHugh (left)
lyric by Frank Loesser (right)

The party's rather dull, isn't it?
We'd love to steal away, wouldn't we?
So let's not even ask
Should we or shouldn't we...

Let's get lost, lost in each other's arms.
Let's get lost, let them send out alarms.
And though they'll think us rather rude,
Let's tell the world we're in that crazy mood.

Let's defrost in a romantic mist, let's get crossed off ev'rybody's list.
To celebrate this night we found each other,
Mmmm, let's get lost.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Let's Get Away From It All



Let's Get Away From It All
music by Matt Dennis
Lyric by Tom Adair

Let's take a boat to Bermuda, let's take a plane to St. Paul,
Let's take a kayak to Quincy or Nyack, let's get away from it all.
Let's take a trip in a trailer, no need to come back at all.
Let's take a powder to Boston for chowder, let's get away from it all.

We'll travel 'round from town to town, we'll visit every state.
I'll repeat, "I love you sweet!" in all the forty-eight.

Let's go again to Niag'ra, this time we'll look at the Fall.
Let's leave our hut, dear, get out of our rut, dear,
Let's get away from it all...

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Let's Fly Away



Let's Fly Away
music & lyric by Cole Porter

I've such a hate on Manhattan lately, that I'd gladly die.
Your converstaion excites me greatly, fo so have I.
I'm tired of the telephone always ringing.
I'm tired of hearing Rudy Vallee singing.
I'm tired of the Paramount's gaudy gilding.
I'm tired of looking up to the Chrysler Building.
I'm tired of having Texas Guinon greet me.
I'm tired of having Grover Whalen meet me.
There's only one solution, dear.
Let's calmly disappear...

Let's fly away, and find a land that's warm and tropic;
Where Prohibition's not the topic all the livelong day.
Let's fly away, and find a country so provincial
We'll never hear what Waletr Winchell might be forced to say.

I'll make your life sublime, far across the blue,
I'll take up all your time compromising you.

Let's not delay, make Mother Nature our Messiah; New York is not for us,
Let's fly away...

Let's Fall In Love



Let's Fall In Love
music by Harold Arlen
lyric by Ted Koehler

I have a feeling, it's a feeling I'm concealing, I don't know why.
It's just a mental, incidental, sentimental alibi;
But I adore you, so strong for you, why go on stalling?
I am falling, love is calling, why be shy?

Let's fall in love, why shouldn't we fall in love?
Our hearts are made of it.
Let's take a chance---why be afraid of it?

Let's close our eyes, and make our own paradise.
Little we know of it, still we can try to make a go of it.

We might have been made for each other,
To be or not to be, let our heart's discover,

Let's fall in love, why shouldn't we fall in love?
Now is the time for it while we are young.
Let's fall in love

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Let's Face The Music And Dance



Let's Face The Music And Dance
music & lyric by Irving Berlin

There may be trouble ahead,
But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.

Before the fiddlers have fled, before they ask us to pay the bill,
And while we still have a chance,
Let's face the music and dance.

Soon we'll be without the moon, humming a different tune, and then,
There may be teardrops to shed.
So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.