POINT OF VIEW

The Lyrical Legacy Of Lorenz Hart
Dancing On The Ceiling
The world is lyrical
Because a miracle
Has brought my lover to me
Though she’s some other place,
her face I see
At night I creep in bed
And never sleep in bed
But look above in the air
And to my greatest joy, my love is there
She dances overhead
On the ceiling near my bed
In my sight
All through the night
I try to hide in vain
Underneath my counterpane
But there’s my love
up there above
I whisper, “Go away, my lover
It’s not fair”
But I’m so grateful to discover
That she’s still there
I love my ceiling more
Since it is a dancing floor
Just for my love
from Evergreen (1930)

Isn’t It Romantic
Isn’t it romantic?
Music in the night, a dream that
can be heard.
Isn’t it romantic?
Moving shadows write the oldest
magic word.
I hear the breezes playing in the trees above
While all the world is saying you were
meant for love.
Isn’t it romantic
Merely to be young on such a night as this?
Isn’t it romantic?
Every note that’s sung is like a lover’s kiss.
Sweet symbols in the moonlight,
Do you mean that I will fall in love perchance?
Isn’t it romance?

Sweet symbols in the moonlight,
Do you mean that I will fall in love perchance?
Isn’t it romantic?
Isn’t it romance?
from Love Me Tonight (1932)

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
After one whole quart of brandy
Like a daisy, I’m awake
With no Bromo-Seltzer handy
I don’t even shake
Men are not a new sensation
I’ve done pretty well I think
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink
I’m wild again, beguiled again
A simpering, whimpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
Couldn’t sleep and wouldn’t sleep
When love came and told me,
I shouldn’t sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
Lost my heart, but what of it
He is cold I agree
He can laugh, but I love it
Although the laugh’s on me
I’ll sing to him, each spring to him
And long, for the day when I’ll
cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
He’s a fool and don’t I know it
But a fool can have his charms
I’m in love and don’t I show it
Like a babe in arms
Love’s the same old sad sensation
Lately I’ve not slept a wink
Since this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink
I’ve sinned a lot, I’m mean a lot
But I’m like sweet seventeen a lot
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
I’ll sing to him, each spring to him
And worship the trousers that
cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
When he talks, he is seeking
Words to get, off his chest
Horizontally speaking, he’s at his
very best
Vexed again, perplexed again
Thank God, I can be oversexed again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
Wise at last, my eyes at last,
Are cutting you down to your size at last
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - no more
Burned a lot, but learned a lot
And now you are broke, so you earned
a lot
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered -
no more
Couldn’t eat, was dispeptic
Life was so hard to bear
Now my heart’s antiseptic
Since you moved out of there
Romance, finis. Your chance, finis.
Those ants that invaded my pants, finis.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered
- no more
From Pal Joey (1940)

My Funny Valentine
Behold the way our fine feathered friend,
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere,
And slightly dopey gent

You’re my funny valentine,
Sweet comic valentine,
You make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable,
Yet, you’re my favorite work of art.

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
But, don’t change a hair for me.
Not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine, stay!
Each day is Valentine’s Day
from Babes In Arms (1937)
all originally set to music by the incomparable Richard Rodgers...