85. He’s Funny That Way (1928)

Lyrics: Richard A. Whiting & 

Music by Neil Moret

(original title: She’s funny that way)

follows 11 versions of this song

Never had nothing
No one to care
That’s why I seem to have
More than my share
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

When I hurt his feelings
Once in a while
His only answer is one little smile
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some better gal

But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

(bridge)

Though he loves to work
And slave for me everyday
He’d be so much better off
If I went away

But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy without me I know
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

2nd version

(Lyrics are quite different from 1937 version)

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

3rd version

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

4th version

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got a man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

5th version

Band, arrangement and lyrics different from previous MT 169

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

(bridge)

Never had nothing
No one to care
That’s why I seem to have
More than my share
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

When I hurt his feelings
Once in a while
His only answer is one little smile
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some better gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

6th version

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

(bridge)

Never had nothing
No one to care
That’s why I seem to have
More than my share
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

When I hurt his feelings
Once in a while
His only answer is one little smile
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

7th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1946	LR	29	Complete on Verve v.1	5	3’17”

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
I’m glad I’m living
And lucky to be
But I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

Ain’t got a dollar
Can’t save a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why can’t I leave him
Why can’t I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

8th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1946	LR	39	Complete on Verve v.1	11	2’51”

Not much to look at
Nothing to see
I’m glad I’m living
And I’m lucky to be
But I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

Ain’t got a dollar
Can’t save a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

9th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1951	LR	77	Perfect Complete Collection  v.4	9	2’55”

(intro)

I’m not much to look at
I’m nothing to see
I’m glad I’m living
And I’m lucky to be
I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

Ain’t got a dollar
Can’t save a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

10th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1952	MT	238	Complete on Verve v.2	13	3’11”

Once he dressed in tweeds and drapes
Owned a Rolls Royce car
Now he seems quite out of place
Like a fallen star
While I worry plan and scheme
Over what to do
Can’t help feeling it’s a dream
It’s just too good to be true

I’m not much to look at
I’m nothing to see
I’m glad I’m living
And I’m lucky to be
But I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I ain’t got a dollar
Can’t save a cent
He doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Mad about me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away

But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

11th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1954	LR	110	Perfect Complete Collection vol.7	1	3’47”

( introduction in French)

I’m not much to look at
I’m nothing to see
I’m glad I’m living
And I’m lucky to be
But I’ve got a man
Crazy for me
He’ funny that way

I ain’t got a dollar
I can’t save a cent
But he doesn’t holler
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work and slave
For me every day
He’d be so much better off
If I went away

But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy
Without me I know
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some other gal

But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got that man
Crazy for me
He’s funny that way

 

Notes

I thank Jerry Meyer from NY for his accurate transcriptions revision.

This song was originally written for a woman. The first verse on MT 238 said “once she dressed in silks and lace…”