OHIO (Bernstein)
Leonard Bernstein (m) Betty Comden (l) Adolph Green (l)  1953

from "Wonderful Town" 1953 musical New York 
sung by Rosalind Russell & Edith Adams  
1955 London sung by Pat Kirkwood (Ruth) & Shani Wallace (Eileen)  


as recorded by Pat Kirkwood and Shani Wallace 
with Cyril Ornadel & his Orchestra 
January 18th 1955 
London

also recorded by Doris Day (chorus only)


[both]
Why oh why oh why oh,
Why did I ever leave Ohio?
Why did I wander
To find what lies yonder,
When life was so cosy at home?

Wonderin' while I wander,
Why did I fly, why did I roam?
Oh why oh why oh
Did I leave Ohio?
Maybe I'd better go (Eileen) home (Ruth)O-H-I-O
[both]
Maybe I'd better go home!

[Ruth]
Now listen Eileen, Ohio was stifling,
We just couldn't wait to get out o' the place!
With mom saying, "Ruth, what no date for this evening?",
[Eileen}
And pop with, "Eileen do be home dear by ten!".
[both]
Ugh!

[Ruth]
Those gossipy neighbours, and everyone yappin' who's goin' with who!
[Eileen]
And dating those drips that I've known since I'm four!
[Ruth}
The Kiwanis Club Dance -
[Eileen]
On the basketball floor!
[Ruth]
Cousin Maude with her lectures on sin -
[both]
What a bore!
[Eileen]
Jerry Black!
[Ruth]
Cousin Min!
[Eileen]
Ezra Nye!
[Ruth]
Hannah Finn!
[Eileen]
Just hopeless!
[Ruth]
Babbity!
[Eileen]
Stuffy!
[Ruth]
Provincial!
[both]
Thank heavens we're free!

Why oh why oh why oh
Did we ever I leave Ohio?

Wonderin' while we wander,
Why did we fly, why did we roam?
Oh why oh why oh
Did we leave Ohio?
Maybe we'd better go (Eileen) home (Ruth)O-H-I-O
[both]
Maybe we'd better go home!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2012)