187. Now They Call It Swing

W.Hirsch & Vaughn DeLeath & N. Cloutier & L. Handman

Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swing

Then they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swing

When singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dru-du-du, dra-da-da

Rhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing

(bridge)

Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swing

Then they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swing

When singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dru-du-du, dra-da-da

Rhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing

Baby now they call it swing

 

2nd version

Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swing

Then they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swing

When singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dri-di-di, dra-da-da

Rhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing

(bridge)

Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swing

Then they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swing

When singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dri-di-di, dra-da-da

Rhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing

Baby now they call it swing

186. Now Or Never

Billie Holiday & Curtis R. Lewis

Hey fat daddy make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never ’cause I been so good to you
Now baby or never ’cause I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never ’cause you can’t make up your mind
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me

Gonna call you once more on the telephone
I’ll give you till twelve then I’ll be gone

Hey fat daddy make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never ’cause I been so good to you
Now baby or never ’cause I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never ’cause you can’t make up your mind
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me

(short bridge)

I waited last night for you to call
You give me no consideration at all
It’s now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never and you must make up your mind
Now babv or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t
You do baby or don’t
Either you will baby or won’t fall in love with me

 

2nd version

Hey (?) baby make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never I’ve been so sad and blue
Now baby or never I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause I wasted so much time
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me

I gonna call you once more on the telephone
I’ll give you till twelve then I’ll be gone

Now baby or never I’ve been so sad and blue
Now baby or never I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause I wasted so much time
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me

185. No Regrets

Ingraham & Harry Tobias

No regrets
Although our love affair has gone astray
No regrets
I know I’ll always care though you’re away
So now our happy romance ended suddenly
Still in my heart you’ll be forever mine
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets

(bridge)

No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets

2nd version

No regrets
Although our love affair has gone astray
No regrets
I know I’ll always care though you’re away
So now our happy romance ended suddenly
Still in my heart you’ll be forever mine
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets

(bridge)

No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets

184. No More (You Ain’t Gonna Bother Me)

Toots Camarata/Bob Russell

 You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more

 

2nd version

You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more

 

3rd version

You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more

183. No Good Man

Irene Higginbotham & Dan Fisher & Sammy Gallop

No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-around

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’ve been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man

 

2nd version

No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-around

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’ve been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man

(short bridge)

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man

 

3rd version

No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-around

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man

I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love
With a no good
Man

181. Nice Work If You Can Get It (1937)

lyrics by Ira Gershwin

music by George Gershwin

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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?

 

2nd version

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Just imagine someone
Awaiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more

Loving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

 

3rd version

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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?

(long bridge)

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
You can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

 

4th version

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
You can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

(applauses)

 

5th version

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

(applauses)

 

6th version

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

(applauses)

 

7th version

(The MC presents the band)

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?

Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strolling with the one boy
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
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?

(applauses)

First appeared on the film A Damsel in Distress with Fred Astaire
 

182. Night And Day (1932)

lyrics and music by Cole Porter

Night and day you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It’s no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Night and day

Day and night
Why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic’s boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Night and day

Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let me spent my life making love to you
Night and day
Day and night

(short bridge)

Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let spent my life making love to you
Day and night
Night and day

 

2nd version

Night and day you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It’s no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Night and day

Day and night
Why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic’s boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Night and day

Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let me spent my life making love to you
Night and day
Night and day

(short bridge)

Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let spent my life making love to you
Day and night
Night and day

First appeared in the show Gay Divorce with Fred Astaire and Claire Luce