Nice Work If You Can Get It

music by George Gershwin

lyric by Ira Gershwin

A man who lives for only making money lives a life that isn't necessarily sunny;

Likewise the man who works for fame--

There's no guarantee that time won't erase his name.

The fact is

The only work that really brings enjoyment

Is the kind that is for girl and boy meant.

Fall in love--you won't regret it.

That's the best work of all--if you can get it...

Holding hands at midnight 'neath a starry sky...

Nice work if you can get it, and you can get it--if you try.

Strolling with the one girl, sighing sigh after sigh...

Nice work if you can get it, and you can get it if you try.

Just imagine someone waiting at the cottage door,

Where two hearts become one...

Who could ask for anything more?

Loving one who loves you, and then taking that vow...

Nice work if you can get it, and if you get it--Won't You Tell Me How?

Nevertheless I'm In Love With You

Nevertheless I'm In Love With You

music by Harry Ruby (top)

lyric by Bert Kalmar

I knew the time had to come when I'd be held under your thumb.

I'm like a pawn in your hand, moved and compelled at your command.

Whether it's for bad or for good, I would never change it if I could...

Maybe I'm right, and maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm weak, and maybe I'm strong,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

Maybe I'll win and maybe I'll lose, and maybe I'm in for crying the blues,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you...

Somehow I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking.

Fine at the start then left with a heart that is breaking.

Maybe I'll live a life of regret, and maybe I'll give much more than I'll get,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

In spite of all I could do, I went ahead falling for you,

So if I laugh or I cry, I made my bed, that's where I'll lie.

For what happens there's no excuse, I put my own head in the noose...

Maybe I'm right, and maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm weak, and maybe I'm strong,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

Maybe I'll win and maybe I'll lose, and maybe I'm in for crying the blues,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

Somehow I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking.

Fine at the start then left with a heart that is breaking.

Maybe I'll live a life of regret, and maybe I'll give much more than I'll get,

But nevertheless, I'm in love with you...

Namely You

Namely You

music by Gene DePaul (right)

lyric by Johnny Mercer (left)

You deserve a gal who's willin'--namely me.

One who'd love to raise your chillun--namely me.

Standin' there in the doorway waitin' at the close of day.

With you all the way to love, honor and obey.

You deserve two arms to hold you. Namely mine.

There to comfort and enfold you rain or shine.

I deserve someone strong and handsome, bashful and shy and true,

And I know just the one who'll do. Namely you.

You deserve a boy who's willin'--namely me.

One who'd love to raise your chillun--namely me.

Comin' home when the work is over at the close of day.

With you all the way to love, honor and obey.

You deserve two arms to hold you. Namely mine.

There to comfort and enfold you rain or shine.

I deserve someone sweet and tender, bashful and shy and true.

And I know just the one who'll do.

Namely you.

My Ship

My Ship

music by Kurt Weill (above)

lyric by Ira Gershwin (top)

My ship has sails that are made of silk--

The decks are trimmed with gold--

And of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold.

My ship's aglow with a million pearls, and rubies fill each bin;

The sun sits high in a sapphire sky when my ship comes in.

I can wait the years till it appears--

One fine day one spring.

But the pearls and such, they won't mean much if there's missing just one thing:

I do not care if that day arrives--

That dream need never be--

If the ship I sing doesn't also bring my own true love to me--

If the ship I sing doesn't also bring

My own true love to me...

My Shining Hour

My Shining Hour

music by Harold Arlen (left)

lyric by Johnny Mercer (right)

This moment, this minute and each second in it,

Will leave a glow upon the sky, and as time goes by, it will never die.

This will be my shining hour, calm and happy and bright,

In my dreams, your face will flower, through the darkness of the night.

Like the lights of home before me, or an angel watching o'er me,

This will be my shining hour, till I'm with you again.

My Romance

My Romance

music by Richard Rodgers (left)

lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

I won't kiss your hand, madam, crazy for you though I am.

I'll never woo you on bended knee.

No, madam, not me.

We don't need that flow'ry fuss.

No, sir, madam, not for us

My romance doesn't have to have a moon in the sky.

My romance doesn't need a blue lagoon standing by.

No month of May, no twinkling stars.

No hideaway, no soft guitars.

My romance doesn't need a castle rising in Spain

Nor a dance to a constantly surprising refrain.

Wide awake, I can make my most fantastic dreams come true.

My romance doesn't need a thing but you...