ALL ER NOTHIN'

from "Oklahoma" musical 1943 New York  1947London  filmed 1955
Richard Rodgers (m) Oscar Hammerstein (l)  1943

Celeste Holm & Lee Dixon with Orchestra 
conducted by Jay Blackton (original stage production)  
recorded August 20th 1943 
New York


[ld]
You gotta be a little more standoffish
When fellers offer you a buggy ride!
[ch]
I'll give a imitation of a crawfish
And dig myself a hole where I can hide!

[ld]
I heared how you been kickin' up some capers
When I was off in Kansas City, Mo!
[ch]
No!
I heared some things you couldn't print in papers,
And from fellers who've been talkin' like they know!
[ch]
Foot!

I only did the kinda things I orta, sorta!
To you I was as faithful as can be, for me!
Them stories 'bout the way I lost my bloomers, rumours!
A lot o' tempest in a pot o' tea!
[ld]
The whole thing don't sound very good to me!

With me it's all er nothin',
Is it all er nothin' with you?
It cain't be inbetween
And it cain't be now and then,
No half and half romance will do!

I'm a one woman man, home lovin' type,
All complete with slippers and pipe,
Take me like I am or leave me be!
If you cain't give me all, give me nothin',
And nothin's what you'll get from me!
[ch]
Not even sumpin'?
[ld]
Nothin's what you'll get from me!

[ch]
Would you build me a house, all painted white,
Cute and clean and purty and bright?
[ld]
Big enough for two but not for three!
[ch]
Supposin' that we should have a third one?
[ld]
He'd better look a lot like me!
[ch]
The spittin' image!
[ld]
He's gotta look a lot like me!

[ch]
With you it's all er nothin',
All for you and nothin' for me!
But if a wife is wise,
She's gotta realise
That men like you are wild and free!

So I ain't gonna fuss, ain't gonna frown,
Have your fun, go out on the town,
Stay up late and don't come home till three!
And go right off to sleep if you're sleepy,
No use waitin' up for me!
[ld]
Come back and kiss me!
[ch]
No use waitin' up for me!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2013)