OFF THE RECORD
From the Broadway show "I'd Rather Be Right"
(Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers)

James Cagney



Verse 
It's really a wonderful job 
For fellows like George, Abe and me, too 
It's great to shake hands with the mod, 
And hold every kid on your knee, too. 
Ev'ry word that I speak goes into the headlines; 
When I speak all the papers hold their deadlines 
But I've found a way of dropping a hint, 
Or a glint of the truth 
That the boys cannot print. 
For instance... 
For instance... 

Refrain 1 
When i was only a governor and just a good-time Charlie 
A certain party came to me - he said his name was Farley. 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
He sat right down and talked to me till i was in a stupor 
And ended up by selling me the works of Fenimore Cooper. 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
I said, "you're quite a salesman; 
You've been sent here by the fates 
If you can sell these dreary books 
Which ev'rybody hates, 
Then maybe you can sell me the whole United States!" 
But that's off the record 

Refrain 2 
My messages to the Congress are a lot of Boola-boola 
I'm not so fond of Bankhead, but i'd love to meet Tallulah 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
I sit up in my bedroom reading books like Silas Marnner, 
and Sears and Roebuck catalogues to get away from Garner 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
If i'm not re-elected and worst comes to the worst, 
I'll never die of hunger and i'll never die of thirst. 
I've got one boy with Du Pont and another one with Hearst 
But that's off the record 

Refrain 3 
When i go up to hyde park it is not just for the ride there 
It's not that i love Hyde park, but i love to park and hide there 
Don't print that - It's strictly off the record 
Oh, sing a song of Boulder Dam, but what's a little song worth? 
We'll use it to throw razor blades, and maybe Alice Longworth 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
And now I'd like to talk about some folks I used to know - 
Mr. John L. Lewis and His famous C.I.O. 
"Frankie and Johnnie were sweethearts" 
But that's off the record 

Refrain 4 
My speeches on the radio have made me quite a hero 
I only have to say "My friends" and stocks go down to zero 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
The radio officials say that I'm the leading fellow 
Jack Benny Can be President and I'll go on for Jell-O 
Don't print it - It's strictly off the record 
It's pleasant at the White House, but I'll tell you how i feel: 
The food is something terrible - just sauerkraut and veal 
If Eleanor would stay at home I'd get a decent mean 
But that's off the record