Cole Porter (1891 – 1964)
American composer and songwriter noted for his sophisticated lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms.
Some Argentines, without means, do it,
People say, in Boston, even beans do it.
Let's do it, let's fall in love.
Some get a kick from cocaine.
I'm sure that if
I took even one sniff
That would bore me terrifically, too,
Yet, I get a kick out of you.
They say that bears
Have love affairs
And even camels,
We're merely mammals
Let's misbehave.
In shallow shoals, English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it.
Electric eels I might add do it,
Though it shocks 'em I know...
This rule I propose,
Always have an ace in the hole.
You're the smile
On the Mona Lisa.
You're the pain in my —
The hurricane in my —
Supersensitive heart, dear.
Still I love you, I know,
And the reason is merely because
You irritate me so!
What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve this mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?
It must be fun to be you
And play with love as you do
To treat each new romance
As merely one more dance
Or just another book to glance through
It must be fun to acquire
Whatever heart you desire,
And when you're bored with it
To tear it in two,
It must be fun to be you.
The wit of his words depended on his ability to raise the audience immediately to his own level — and keep it there. The instant happiness that Porter gave his audience is the kind that becomes history.
Sad times
May follow your tracks,
Bad times
May bar you from Saks,
Add times
When Satan in slacks
Breaks down your self control...
Be the poor silly ass
And you'll always travel first class.
Give 'em quips, give 'em fun,
And they'll pay to say you're A–1.
If you become a farmer, you've the weather to buck.
If become a gambler you'll be struck with your luck.
But jack you'll never lack if you can quack like a duck.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.
Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Act the fool, play the calf,
And you'll always have the last laugh.
In a way no other songs of the period quite did, Porter's created a world. It was a between–the–wars realm of drop–dead chic and careless name–dropping insouciance. And it was a sexy place to be invited.
The chimpanzees in the zoos do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love.
There's an, oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me.
Relax for a moment my Jerry
Come out of your dark monastery
While Venus is beaming above.
Darling, let's talk about love.
They say that spring
Means just one thing
To little lovebirds.
We're not above birds,
Lets misbehave.
You are my fav'rite star,
My haven in heaven above,
You are ev'rything I love.