IF LOVE WERE ALL
fr "Bitter Sweet" musical 1929 London sb Peggy Wood  
'29 New York sb Mirielle  '33 London sb Ivy St Helier


Noel Coward  1929
Ivy St Helier w Lew Stone & his Band   rec 1933 London

also rec by -
Judy Garland (live) '61 Carnegie Hall
Shirley Bassey '68

Alma Cogan '62



Please please play my music for me,
I'm not sure of the words yet;
Huh, I'm not sure of anything!

Life is very rough and tumble for a humble siseuse;
One can betray one's troubles never, whatever occurs!
Night after night,
Have to be bright,
Whether you're well or ill;
The people have to laugh their fill,
You mustn't sleep till dawn comes creeping.

Though I never really grumble,
Life's a jumble indeed!
And in my efforts to succeed
I've had to formulate a creed.

I believe in doing what I can,
In crying when I must
And laughing when I choose.
Heigh ho!
If love were all I should be lonely!

I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
The more you're bound to lose;
Although, when shadows fall I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me,
Somebody affectionate and dear,
Cares would be ended
If I knew that he wanted to have me near.

But I believe that, since my life began,
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse,
Heigh ho!
If love were all!

I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
The more you're bound to lose;
Although, when shadows fall I think, I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me,
Somebody affectionate and dear,
Cares would be ended
If I knew that he wanted to have me near.

But, ah-ha, I believe that, since my life began,
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse,
Heigh ho!
If love were all!





(Contributed by Peter Akers - October 2009)