SAGA OF JENNY, THE

from "Lady In The Dark" 1941 musical New York






Kurt Weill (m) Ira Gershwin (l)  1941

as recorded by Helen Forrest
with Benny Goodman & his Orchestra
January 28th 1941


There once was a girl named Jenny
Whose virtues were varied and many,
Exceptin' that she was inclined
Always to make up her mind,
And Jenny points a moral
With which you cannot quarrel,
As you will find!

Jenny made her mind up when she was three,
She herself was gonna trim the Christmas tree!
Christmas Eve she lit the candles, tossed the tapers away;
Little Jenny was an orphan on Christmas Day!

Jenny made her mind up when she was twelve,
That into foreign languages she would delve,
But at seventeen to Vasser; it was quite a blow
That in twenty seven languages she couldn't say no!

Oh poor poor Jenny,
Hot as a penny,
Her equal would be hard to find!
To Jenny I'm beholden,
Her heart was big and golden,
But she would make up her mind!

Jenny made her mind up at twenty two,
To get herself a husband was the thing to do!
She got herself all dolled up in her satins and furs,
And she got herself a husband, but he wasn't hers!

Jenny made her mind up at thirty nine,
She would take a trip to the Argentine;
She was only on vacation but the Latins agree,
Jenny was the one who started the good neighbour policy!

Jenny made her mind up at fifty one,
She would write her memoirs before she was done.
The very day her book was published, history relates,
There were wives who shot their husbands in thirty three states!

Poor poor Jenny,
Bright as a penny,
Her equal would be hard to find!
She could give cards and spadies
To many othe ladies,
But she would make up her mind!

Jenny made her mind up at seventy five,
She would live to be the oldest woman alive!
Gin and rum and destiny play funny tricks,
And poor Jenny kicked the bucket at seventy six!

Jenny points a moral
With which you cannot quarrel,
Makes a lot of common sense!
Jenny and her saga
Proves that you are gaga
If you don't keep sittin' on the fence!

Jenny and her story
Point the way to glory
To all man and woman kind.
Anyone with vision
Comes this decision,
Don't make up,
You shouldn't make up,
You mustn't make up,
Never make up!
Anyone with vision
Comes this decision,
Don't make up your mind!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - July 2013)