BUT NOT FOR ME
From the Broadway Musical "Girl Crazy" (1930)
(Music: George Gershwin / Lyrics: Ira Gershwin)
Ginger Rogers & Willie Howard (Broadway Production) - 1930
Eddie Quillan & Arline Judge ("Girl Crazy" Film Soundtrack") - 1932
Lee Wiley - 1940
Bing Crosby - 1942
Harry James & His Orch. (vocal: Helen Forrest) - 1942
Judy Garland ("Girl Crazy" Film Soundtrack) - 1943
Artie Shaw & His Orch. - 1945
Pat Flowers - 1945
Ella Fitzgerald - 1950
Dick Jurgens & His Orch. (vocal: Al Galante) - 1954
Geraldo & His Orch. - 1954
Chet Baker - 1954
Billie Holiday - 1955
Doris Day - 1956
Dinah Washington - 1956
Polly Bergen - 1957
Sarah Vaughan - 1957
Sammy Davis, Jr. - 1957
Anita O'Day - 1958
Monica Lewis - 1958
Johnny Hodges & His Strings (Instr.) - 1958
Eydie Gormé - 1959
Julie London - 1960
Diahann Carroll - 1960
Chris Connor - 1961
Les McCann - 1961
Ted Heath & His Band - 1961
Ketty Lester - 1962
Nana Mouskouri - 1962
Wayne Newton - 1963
Ray Conniff & Billy Butterfield (Instr.) - 1963
Joni James - 1964
Sylvia Telles - 1965
Harve Presnell & Connie Francis (feat. in the film
"When The Boys Meet The Girls") - 1965
The Lewis Sisters - 1969
Carmen McRae - 1972
Bobby Short - 1973
Ginger Rogers - 1978
Rosemary Clooney - 1979
The Buffalo Philharmonic (feat. in the film "Manhattan") - 1979
Toni Tennille - 1988
Harry Connick Jr. (feat. in the film "When Harry Met Sally") - 1989
Kenny Rankin - 1994
Mary Stallings - 1994
Elton John (feat. in the film "Four Weddings And A Funeral") - 1994
Ann Hampton Callaway - 1996
Lena Jansson - 1996
Barbara Lea - 1997
Joy Adams - 1998
Loretta Cormier - 1998
Joanie Pallatto - 1999
Saskia Laroo - 1999
Salena Jones - 1999
Georgie Fame - 2000
Diana Krall - 2001
Patti Austin - 2001
Vanessa Rubin - 2001
Claudia Schmidt - 2001
Fay Claassen - 2002
Trudy Kerr - 2002
Jerry Jeff Walker - 2003
Beaky Johnston - 2004
Ronnie Milsap - 2004
Rod Stewart - 2004
Kate McGarry - 2004
Also recorded by:
Jimmy Roselli; Carol Sloane; Gisele Mackenzie; The Kings Singers;
Ethel Merman; Dick Haymes; Della Reese; Ray Anthony; June Valli;
Vic Damone; Jackie Gleason; Red Garland; Stan Getz; Sam Cooke;
MJQ; Benny Goodman; Helen Ward; John Coltrane; Stanley Black;
Larry Adler; The Platters; Betty O'Hara; Etta Jones; Patty Peterson;
Kate Smith; Joe Venuti; Miles Davis; Gloria Lynne; The Flamingos;
Marian McPartland; Mark Murphy; Natalie Merchant; André Previn;
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs; Nancy Wilson; Margaret Whiting;
Cliff Adams Singers; Julie Rogers; Dakota Staton; Linda Ronstadt;
Bobby Hackett; Jack Teagarden; Oscar Peterson; Nat 'King' Cole;
Jack Jones; Buddy Greco; Mary Martin.........and many others.
Old man sunshine, listen you
Never tell me dreams come true
Just try it and I'll start a riot
Beatrice Fairfax, don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
It's all bananas
They're writing songs of love, but not for me
A lucky star's above, but not for me
With love to lead the way, I've found more skies of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee
It all began so well, but what an end
This is the time a fellah needs a friend
Love ain't done right by now, however
What the hell, I guess he's not for me
I was a fool to fall and get that way
I should have known the price I'd have to pay
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I guess he's not for me
++++++++++
ALTERNATE VERSES:
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Heigh ho, alas, and also lackaday
Although I can't dismiss the memory of her kiss
I guess she's not for me
She's knocking on the door, but not for me
She'll plan a two by four, but not for me
I know that love's a game, I'm puzzled just the same
Was I the moth or flame, I'm all at sea
It all began so well, but what an end
This is the time a fellah needs a friend
When every happy plot ends with a marriage knot
And there's no knot, no, not for me
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2012)
