I LIKE THE WAY YOU SAY GOODNIGHT


Leslie Holmes & Phyllis Robins - 1935



LESLIE:
Every day's a happy day for you and me
There's one fault that I find
Your Ma and Pa, they hang around eternally
They must be most unkind

I like the way you say goodnight
Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight, it's just delight
Why do you say it's time I ought to go
And when I want to stay, you say "No! No! No!"

All day you keep me out of range
But in the evening how you seem to change
When we've said "Auf Wiedersehen", then we start to kiss again
Mmm, I like the way you say goodnight

PHYLLIS: I'm going home, darling, you've said goodnight
LESLIE: Well?
PHYLLIS: Well, what do people usually do after they've said goodnight?
LESLIE: Oh, I know, turn the lights out
PHYLLIS: Ha-ha-ha, oh listen, I believe that's Father
LESLIE: Oh no, it isn't closing time yet
PHYLLIS: Oh, oh, darling, oh, you mustn't, you mustn't, you mustn't, I shall scream
LESLIE: Well, go on then, scream, ha-ha-ha
PHYLLIS: Oh, don't be silly, somebody might hear me
LESLIE: Oh, no they won't
PHYLLIS: Darling, you know better than to treat me cold
LESLIE: Gosh, you freeze me right through, you know
PHYLLIS: Yes, but Dad's got on his shooting boots, he's had them soled
LESLIE: Oh, that's my cue

PHYLLIS:
Why, I know you won't like the way he says goodnight
You'll find that his goodnight is not polite
You'd better go, or else look out for strife
LESLIE: Oh, I always like to get a big kick out of life

PHYLLIS:
I know it's very hard to part
But wait until the weather's warm and bright
Ma and Pa will go away on their annual holiday
Then you'll like the way I say goodnight

(Orchestral Interlude)

PHYLLIS:
Mmm, darling, I love the way you say goodnight to me
My hair's all straight, ooh, I look an awful fright
LESLIE:
Oh, that's all right, now, I've got a pocket comb
Now, just another cuddle and I will go home

PHYLLIS: Oh, you've kissed a lot of girls, I know
LESLIE: 
Well, one has to now and then to be polite
You know I must practice, you'll agree
PHYLLIS: Yes, of course, but not on me
LESLIE: Oh, I like the way you say goodnight



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2017)