NEVER SWAT A FLY
From the film "Just Imagine" (1930)
(Ray Henderson / Lew Brown / Buddy G. DeSylva)
Marjorie White & Frank Albertson (Film Soundtrack) - 1930
Abe Lyman's Calif. Ambassador Hotel Orch. (vocal: Ed Landry) - 1930
The Varsity Eight - 1930
The All Star Californians - 1930
McKinney's Cotton Pickers (vocal: Bill Coty) - 1930
Billy "Uke" Carpenter - 1930
Jack Hylton & His Orch. - 1930
Jack Payne & His BBC Dance Orch. (vocal: Jack Payne) - 1930
Marius B. Winter & His Dance Orch. (vocal: Al Bowlly) - 1930
Layton & Johnstone - 1930
Harry Hudson & His Orch. (vocal: The Blue JaysAl Bowlly & Les Allen) - 1931
Mike Messenger's Orch. - 1964
Mal Jennings' Ballarat Jazz Messengers - 1965
Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band (vocal: Geoff Muldaur) - 1967
Maria Muldaur - 1992
Marty Grosz, Keith Ingham & Their Hot Cosmopolites - 1994
Cast Recording (from the show "Good News") - 1995
Justin Hayford - 2004
FRANK ALBERTSON:
Love has made me tender
I now appreciate
Ev'ry little creature on this Earth
That has a mate
Once I hated crickets
I couldn't stand a bee
Now here is a motto
That I follow faithfully
Never swat a fly
He may love another fly
He may sit with her and sigh
The way I do with you
Never harm a flea
He may have a favourite she
That he bounces on his knee
The way I do with you
Never stop a bee
If he is going anywhere
For you may be concluding
Some terrific love affair, be careful
Don't step on an ant
In the middle of a pant
He may want to, but he can't
The way I do with you
MARJORIE WHITE:
I'm the same as you are
Tears come to my eyes
When I see Professors chasing
Helpless butterflies
Fishermen are hateful
They lead a wicked life
Why, ev'ry day they seperate
The husband from his wife
Never swat a fly
He may love another fly
He may sit with her and sigh
The way I do with you
Never spray a nit
With a great big can of Flit
He may think some nit has it
The way I do with you
Never stop a moth
As he is gliding through the air
He may have a date
In someone's flannel underwear, be careful
Don't you dare to slay
Two skeeters while they play
They may want to make hey-hey
The way I do with you
++++++++++
As recorded by IRVING KAUFMAN with ABE LYMAN'S ORCH.:
Never swat a fly
He may love another fly
He may sit with her and sigh
The way I do with you
Never harm a flea
He may have a favourite she
That he bounces on his knee
The way I do with you
Never stop a bee
If he is going anywhere
You may be concluding
Some terrific love affair, be careful
Never stop a moth
If he is gliding through the air
He may have a date
In someone's flannel underwear
Ah-ha, be careful!
Never spray a nit
With a great big can of Flit
He may think some nit has it
The way I do with you
++++++++++
As recorded by THE BLUE JAYS (AL BOWLLY & LES ALLEN):
Never swat a fly
He may love another fly
He may sit with her and sigh
The way I do with you
Never harm a flea
He may have a favourite she
That he bounces on his knee
The way I do with you
Don't step on an ant
In the middle of a pant
He may want to, but he can't
The way I do with you
(Orchestral Break)
Don't you dare to slay
A mosquitoe while at play
He may want to name the day
The way I do with you
Never spray a nit
Or else sock him with your mit
He may think some nit has it
The way I do with you
Never stop a moth
If he is gliding 'cross the air
He may have a date
In someone's flannel underwear, be careful!
Never take a chance
Stepping on a pair of ants
They may want that sweet romance
The way I do with you
++++++++++
As recorded by JIM KWESKIN & THE JUG BAND:
(Sound of fly being swatted)
Don't do that, Dolores
You should never swat a fly
You know, he may have another fly
Ah, may sit with her and sigh
Sigh the way I do with you
With you, Dolores
Now, you know, you should never harm a flea
Because he may have a favourite she
That he bouncy-wouncy-wouncies on his knee
A little flea-knee, the way I do with you
We're comin' to the harma mantra now
You know, you should never harm a bee
If he is going anywhere, that's right
'Cause you could be bustin' up, be concluding
Some fantastic insect love affair, yes sir, be careful
Aah, don't step on an ant, or slug a bug
Or approach a roach
Or stick a tick in the middle of a plant
Or stab a crab
You know, all these hairy little insects
May want to, but they can't
Not the way I do with you
Aah, not the way I do with you
(Instrumental Break)
Never swat a fly
He may love another fly
He may sit with her and sigh
The way I do with you
Never harm a flea
He may have a favourite she
That he bounces on his knee
The way I do with you
Never hurt a bee
If he is going anywhere
You may be concluding
Some terrific love affair, be careful
Don't step on an ant
In the middle of a plant
He may want to, but he can't
The way I do with you
++++++++++
(Transcriptions by Mel Priddle - July 2011)
