Moments Like This

Moments Like This

music by Burton Lane (above)

lyric by Frank Loesser (top)

Here is my casual smile, playing its part, keeping the two of us good friends.
Here is my cigarette smoke, hiding my heart,
But here's where the masquerade ends...

Moments like this make me thrill through and through,
Careless moments like this close to you.
Nonchalantly we dine and we dance, yet my heart seems to melt in your glance.

Sweet moments like this, with the soft lights aglow,
Make me long for your kiss, though I know
I'd be just one of all your affairs.
But at moments like this, who cares?

Misty

Misty

music by Erroll Garner (above)

lyric by Johnny Burke (top l-r: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke)

Look at me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree,
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud, I can't understand,
I get misty just holding your hand.

Walk my way, and a thousand violins begin to play,
Or it might be the sound of your hello, that music I hear,
I get misty the moment you're near.

You can say that you're leading me on, but it's just what I want you to do.
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost, that's why I'm following you...

On my own, would I wander through this wonderland alone?
Never knowing my right foot from my left, my hat from my glove,
I'm too misty and too much in love...

Miss Otis Regrets

Miss Otis Regrets

music and lyric by Cole Porter

Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today, Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.
She is sorry to be delayed, but last evening down in lover's lane she strayed,
Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.

When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone, Madam,
She ran to the man who had led her astray,
And from under her velvet gown she drew a gun and shot her lover down,
Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.

When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail, Madam,
They strung her up on the willow across the way,
And the moment before she died she lifted up her lovely head and cried, Madam,
"Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today."

Mine

Mine

music by George Gershwin (left)

lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)

Mine, love is mine, whether it rain or storm or shine.
Mine, you are mine, never another valentine.
And I am yours, tell me that I'm yours, show me that smile my heart adores.
Mine, more than divine to know that love like yours is mine!

The point they're making in the song
Is that they more than get along;
And he is not ashamed to say
She made him what he is today.

It does a person good to see
Such happy domesticity;
The way they're making love, you'd swear
They're not a married pair.

He says, no matter what occurs,
Whatever he may have is hers;
The point that she is making is
Whatever she may have is his.

Mine, more than divine to know that love like yours is mine!

Midnight Sun

music by Lionel Hampton (above) and Sonny Burke (top)

lyric by Johnny Mercer (middle)

Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice, warmer thana summer night,
The clouds were like an alabaster palace rising to a snowy height.
Each star its own aurora borealis, suddenly you held me tight,
I could see the midnight sun.

I can't explain the silver rain that found me, or was that a moonlit veil?
The music of the universe around me, or was that a nightingale?
And then your arms miraculously found me, suddenlt the sky turned pale,
I could see the midnight sun.

Was there such a night, it's a thrill I still don't quite believe,
But after you were gone, there was still some stardust on my sleeve.

The flame of it may dwindle to an ember, and the stars forget to shine,
And we may see the meadow in December, icy white and crystalline.
But, oh, my darling always I'll remember, when your lips were close to mine,
And I/we saw the midnight sun.

Memories Of You

Memories Of You

music by Eubie Blake

lyric by Andy Razaf (top)

Waking skies at sunrise, ev'ry sunset too,
Seems to be bringing me memories of you.
Here and there, ev'rywhere, scenes that we once knew.
And they all just recall memories of you.

How I wish I could forget those happy yesteryears,
That have left a rosary of tears...

Your face beams in my dreams spite of all I do.
Ev'rything seems to bring memories of you...

Maybe

music by George Gershwin (left)

lyric by Ira Gershwin (right)

Though today is a blue day, still, tomorrow is near;
And perhaps with the new day, cares will all disappear.
Though happiness is late, and we must wait, there's no need to be nervous.
There are dreams at your service...

Soon or late--maybe--
If you wait--maybe--
Some kind of fate--maybe--
Will help you discover where to find your lover.

You will hear, "Yoo-Hoo."
He'll be near you-oo.
Paradise will open its gate-maybe soon-maybe late.

Though I'm patiently waiting, he is long overdue.
If he keeps hesitating, tell me, what can I do?
Someday he will appear--
Perhaps he's near.
I'm not going to worry, but I do wish he'd hurry.

Soon or late--maybe--
If I wait--maybe--
Some kind fate--maybe--
Will help me to discover where to find my lover.

You will hear "Yoo-Hoo."
He'll be near you-oo.
Paradise will open its gate-maybe soon-maybe late...

Manhattan

Manhattan

music by Richard Rodgers (left)

lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

Summer journeys to Niag'ra and to other places aggravate all our cares.
We'll save our fares!
I've a cozy little flat in what is known as old Manhattan,
We'll settle down right here in town!

We'll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too.
It's lovely going through the zoo.
It's very fancy on old Delancey Street, you know.
The subway charms us so when balmy breezes blow to and fro.

And tell me what street compares with Mott Street in July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.
The great big city's a wondrous toy just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Greenwich, where modern men itch to be free;
And Bowling Green you'll see with me.
We'll bathe at Brighton; the fish you'll frighten when you're in.
Your bathing suit so thin will make the shellfish grin fin to fin.

I'd like to take a sail on Jamaica Bay with you.
And fair Canarsie's lake we'll view.
The city's bustle cannot destroy the dreams of a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Yonkers where true love conquers in the wilds.
And starve together, dear, in Child's.
We'll go to Coney and eat baloney on a roll.
In Central Park we'll stroll, where our first kiss we stole, soul to soul.

Our future babies we'll take to Abie's Irish Rose.
I hope they live to see it close.
(And My Fair Lady is a terrific show they say, we both may see it close some day.)
The city's clamor can never spoil the dreams of a boy and goil.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.

We'll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too.
We'll try to cross Fifth Avenue.
As black as onyx we'll find the Bronnix Park Express.
Our Flatbush flat, I guess, will be a great success, more or less.

A short vacation on Inspiration Point we'll spend.
And in the station house we'll end.
But Civic Virtue cannot destroy the dreams of a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy...

Make Believe

music by Jerome Kern (right in photo)

lyric by Oscar Hammerstein II (left in photo, Florenz Zeigfeld in middle)

The game of "just supposng" is the sweetest game I know,

Our dreams are more romantic than the world we see.

And if the things we dream about don't happen to be so,

That's just an unimportant technicality...

We could make believe I love you, only make believe that you love me.

Others find peace of mind in pretending;

Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we?

Make believe our lips are blending in a phantom kiss, or two, or three?

Might as well make believe I love you, for, to tell the truth, I do.

Your pardon I pray,'twas too much to say, the words that betray my heart.

We only pretend, you do not offend, in playing a lover's part...

We could make believe I love you, only make believe that you love me.

Others find peace of mind in pretending;

Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we?

Make believe our lips are blending in a phantom kiss, or two, or three?

Might as well make believe I love you,

For, to tell the truth, I do...

Luck Be A Lady

Luck Be A Lady

music and lyric by Frank Loesser

They call you Lady Luck, but there is room for doubt.
At times you have a very unladylike way of running out.
You're on this date with me, the pickings have been lush;
And yet before this evening is over you might give me the brush.
You might forget your manners;
You might refuse to stay.
And so the best that I can do is pray...

Luck, be a lady tonight.
Luck, be a lady tonight.
Luck, if you've ever been a lady to begin with, luck be a lady tonight.

Luck, let a gentleman see how nice a dame you can be.
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with---
Luck be a lady with me.

A lady doesn't leave her escort; it isn't fair, it isn't nice.
A lady doesn't wander all over the room and blow on some other guy's dice.

So let's keep the party polite.
Never get out of my sight.
Stick with me, baby, I'm the guy that you came in with,
Luck be a lady, luck be a lady, luck be a lady tonight...

Lover, Come Back To Me

Lover, Come Back To Me

music by Sigmund Romberg (middle)
lyric by Oscar Hammerstein II (top)

The sky was blue, and, high above, the moon was new, and so was love.

This eager heart of mine was singing:

"Lover, where can you be?"

You came at last, love had its day.

That day is past, you've gone away.

This aching heart of mine is singing:

"Lover, come back to me!"

Rememb'ring every little thing you used to say and do,

I'm so lonely.

Every road I walked along I've walked along with you---

No wonder I am lonely!

The sky is blue, the night is cold.

The moon is new, and love is old.

And while I'm waiting here this heart of mine is singing:

"Lover, come back to me!"

Lover

Lover

music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

When you held your hand to my heart
Dear, you did something grand to my heart.
And we played the scene to perfection though we didn't have time to rehearse.
Since you took control of my life you have become the whole of my life.
When you are away, it's awful, and when you are with me, it's worse...

Lover, when I'm near you and I hear you speak my name
Softly, in my ear you breathe a flame.
Lover, when we're dancing keep on glancing in my eyes,
Till love's own entrancing music dies.

All of my future is in you.
You're ev'ry plan I design.
Promise me that you'll continue to be mine...

Lover, please be tender, when you're tender fears depart.
Lover, I surrender to my heart.

Lover, when I'm near you and I hear you speak my name
Softly, in my ear you breathe a flame.
Lover, it's immoral but why quarrel with our bliss
When two lips of coral want to kiss?

I say, "The devil is in you," and to resist you I try,
But if you didn't continue I would die!

Lover, please be tender, when you're tender fears depart.
Lover, I surrender to my heart...

Lovely To Look At

Lovely To Look At

music by Jerome Kern (l-r in photo: Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields)
lyric by Jimmy McHugh (top) and Dorothy Fields

Clothes must play a part to light an eye, to win a heart;
They say a gown can almost speak, if it's chic.
Should you select the right effect, you cannot miss, you may be sure,
He will tell you this...

Lovely to look at, delightful to know and heaven to kiss,
A combination like this, is quite my most impossible dream come true,
Imagine finding a dream like you!
You're lovely to look at, it's thrilling to hold you terribly tight.
For we're together, the moon is new, and oh, it's lovely to look at you tonight!

What appeals to me is just your charm and dignity;
Not what you wear, but just an air, of great repose.
You are quite perfect from your head down to your toes both night and day.
I am moved to say...

Lovely to look at, delightful to know and heaven to kiss,
A combination like this, is quite my most impossible dream come true,
Imagine finding a dream like you!
You're lovely to look at, it's thrilling to hold you terribly tight.
For we're together, the moon is new, and oh, it's lovely to look at you tonight!

Love Walked In

Love Walked In

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

Nothing seemed to matter anymore; didn't care what I was headed for.
Time was standing still;
Nothing counted till there came a knock-knock-knocking at the door...

Love walked right in and drove the shadows away;
Love walked right in and brought my sunniest day.
One magic moment, and my heart seemed to know
That love said "Hello!"---though not a word was spoken.

One look, and I forgot the gloom of the past;
One look , and I had found my future at last.
One look, and I had found a world completely new,
When love walked in with you.

One look, and I forgot the gloom of the past;
One look, and I had found my future at last.
Oh, then and there I found a world completely new,
When love walked in with you...

Love, Look Away

Love, Look Away

music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Oscar Hammerstein II (right)

Love, look away!
Love, look away from me.
Fly, when you pass my door, fly and get lost at sea.

Call it a day.
Love, let us say we're through, no good are you for me,
No good am I for you...

Wanting you so, I try too much.
After you go, I cry too much.

Love, look away.
Lonely though I may be, leave me and set me free,
Look away, look away, look away from me.