A LITTLE LEARNIN' IS A DANG'ROUS THING
(Sy Oliver / Dick Jacobs)


Frank Sinatra & Pearl Bailey - 1947






SIDE ONE:

FS: Hey Pearl, what's buggin' ya, girl?
PB: Too much knowledge, Frank, too much knowledge
FS: Explain it
PB: Well, aah, ahh, I started to school
FS: Umm-hum
PB: At the age of six
FS: One o' them real quiz kids
PB: Yeah, started readin' and writin' and such
FS: Usual start
PB: As time went on I studied lots of, whee, other things
FS: Uh-huh, like uh
PB: Most of 'em didn't hurt much
FS: Oh, I had other teachers
PB: Well, I got my diploma, I was real, real smart
FS: That's pretty frank
PB: Of my knowledge, there was no doubt
FS: That's pretty obvious
PB: Yeah, but lately I've ascertained, that's a big word, too
FS: Hah-hah-hah
PB: It wasn't even a start, let me tell you what I found out
FS: Look at the size of my ear, pour it on
PB: You know it started with a man
FS: Uh-hah
PB: And the man he was grand
FS: Ain't it the truth
PB: He had a line that would make a bird sing
FS: Well, this kid really came on, I can see that
FS: 'Cause you were much too smart to be afraid at the start
PB: Frank, a little learnin' is a dang'rous thing 

FS: Well, I'd like to hear some more
PB: At first he only wanted two
FS: To?
PB: Then he changed it to few
FS: Oh, you mean loot
PB: I even loaned that man my watch and my ring
FS: Oh, you lost your head, Pearl, completely
FS: 'Cause you were hip to the fact that he would pay you right back
PB: Yes, and learnin' is a dang'rous thing
FS: Um-hmm
FS: Yes, with his sweet talk, his so discreet talk
PB: Oh, Frank, he had me doin' things I shouldn't do
FS: That Cad!
PB: Hah-hah
FS: Ain't no denyin', no sense in tryin'
PB: Well, let me tell you this, this is sad
PB: My education's beat black and blue
FS: I'll get you an encyclopedio
PB: Yeah, but now I know the score at last
FS: Well, now I'm happier
PB: I'm a gal with a past that left my head hot and purse in a sling
FS: You mean you got yourself in hock
PB: Yes, it's understood, that brother clipped me, but good
BOTH: A little learnin' can be a dang'rous thing
FS: Yeah, girl, that's the kinda stuff you gotta watch for
PB: Oh, it makes me so nervous
FS: Sure does, shakes you up


SIDE TWO:

FS: Yeah, like I said, that knowledge can mess up your life at times
PB: Oh, it makes you so nervous, I shot a blank
PB: Now what's with you, Frank?
FS: Well, dig me, I started to school, just like all kids do
PB: You mean you were young once
FS: I was the Mickey Rooney of my day
FS: Learned my lessons and got along fine
PB: You old social climber
FS: And then as time went on I learned a lot of other things
PB: You clever boy
FS: Um-hmm, and I really had myself a jolly time
PB: I can imagine as much
FS: I never played any fav'rites 'cause, uh, I was much too smart
PB: You think you were much too smart, wait'll you get further down
FS: Had my boots on and I had 'em laced up tight
PB: Kids talked like that in your era?
FS: We wrote the book, Pearl, but then I made a mistake
PB: Most men do
FS: Um-hmm, I should have known from the start
PB: Most men don't
FS: Uh-huh, let me tell you what happened last night
PB: This is not dated material?
FS: Stand back
FS: 'Cause it started with a gal
PB: Always does
FS: And her name, it was Sal
PB: Sounds corny
FS: Oh, she was cute, she was as fine as a bird on the wing
PB: You always could pick 'em
PB: But you were much too bright to fall in love the first night
FS: But, uh, a little learnin' is a dang'rous thing
PB: I told ya that on the other side of the record

FS: And then we danced for a time or two, till she said she was blue
PB: Oh-oh, there it is
FS: I right away I was doin' the thing
PB: Just rushin' through life
FS: 'Cause I was hip to the fact that I could, uh, always jump back 
PB: Sure thing
FS: But a little learnin' is a dang'rous thing
PB: Yes, it is
FS: She made with sweet talk
PB: Um-hmmm
FS: That so hard to beat talk
PB: You know what, Frank
FS: What's that?
PB: I know she even call you darlin' lover man
FS: You been eavesdroppin'
PB: Yes, I have
FS: That really sent me, coincidently
FS: I should have known enough then to scram
PB: No man is ever that clever, that rhymes
FS: Well, now I guess you know it all, least that's all I recall
PB: That's all you'll ever recall
FS: 'Cept the part 'bout the man with the ring
PB: Oh, you're gone again
FS: In case it's news to you, this mornin' I said 'I do'
PB: Oh, you dog
FS: A little learnin' is a dang'rous, is a dangerous thing
PB: Oh, it's pure treachery, treachery
FS: Trapped, trapped!


**Considered to be the first ever "interracial" duet recording.






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2015)