178. My Man (Mon Homme) 1921
french lyrics by Albert Willemetz & Jacques Charles
english lyrics by Channing Pollock
music by Maurice Yvain
follows 17 versions of this song
rec date |
type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1937 | MT | 73 | Complete on Columbia v.4 | 3 | 3’02” |
(verse I)
Note: the original lyrics has two verses an a refrain. This 1937
version, the first Billie recorded, is the only one she sang with
verse I. All subsequent versions were sang with verse II and
none with both verses.
Sometimes I say
If I just could get away
With my manHe’d go straight sure as fate
For it never is too late
For a man.I just like to dream
Of a cottage by a stream
With my manWhere a few flowers grew
And perhaps a kid or two
Like my man.And then my eyes get wet
I ‘most forget
‘Til he gets hot
And tells me not to talk
such rot(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1948 | MT | 199 | Complete on Decca v.2 | 8 | 2’56” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing
That I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three
Girls has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back on
My knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1948 | AT | 199a | Complete on Decca v.2 | 7 | 3’08” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing
That I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three
Girls has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back on
My knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(a small piece of a chat)
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1949 | LR | 50 | Perfect Complete Collection v.3 | 3 | 2’36” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing
That I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three
Girls has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back on
My knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1951 | LR | 83 | Perfect Complete Collection v.4 | 15 | 3’23” |
(Billie introduces the song:
“I’d like to try singing for you a song
made famous by miss Fanny Brice, thank you”)(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
6th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1952 | MT | 234 | Complete on Verve v.2 | 9 | 2’36” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
7th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1952 | LR | 93 | Perfect Complete Collection v.5 | 2 | 3’11” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
8th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1952 | LR | 97 | Perfect Complete Collection v.5 | 1 | 2’53” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
9th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | LR | 112 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 3 | 2’52” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
10th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | LR | 120 | Complete on Verve v.2 | 18 | 2’52” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
11th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | LR | 138 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 20 | 2’56” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
12th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1955 | LR | 141 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 23 | 2’58” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes, I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
13th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 149 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 10 | 2’53” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
14th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 153 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 14 | 3’21” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet
Tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever moreApplauses
15th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 159 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 20 | 3’02” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet, tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more
16th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 171 | Complete on Verve v.8 | 14 | 3’13” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet, tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
17th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1957 | LR | 182 | Complete on Verve v.10 | 6 | 3’30” |
(verse II)
It’s cost me a lot
But there’s one thing that I’ve got
It’s my man
It’s my manCold and wet, tired you bet
All of this I’ll soon forget
With my manHe’s not much on looks
He’s no hero out of books
But I love him
Yes I love himTwo or three girls
Has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love himI don’t know why I should
He isn’t true
He beats me too
What can I do?(refrain)
Oh my man I love him so
He’ll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don’t care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright
All rightWhat’s the difference if I say
I’ll go away
When I know I’ll come back
On my knees somedayFor whatever my man is
I’m his
Forever more(applauses)
Notes |
Originally, this is a french song, Mon Homme, premiered in France by cabaret singer Mistinguet.
In US it was included in the score of Siegfeld Follies 1921 by the famous American singer Fanny Brice, who passed away May 29th, 1951, a couple of months before Billie’s performance in LR #83. Probably this was the reason why Billie mentioned her in the introduction.