THE HALF OF IT, DEARIE, BLUES
From the Broadway musical "Lady Be Good" (1924)
(George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)

Fred Astaire & Kathlene Martyn (Broadway Production) - 1924
Fred Astaire & Irene Russell (London Production) - 1926
Fred Astaire with George Gershwin - 1926
Percival Mackey's Band (vocal: Percival Mackey) - 1926
Oscar Levant (feat. in the film "An American In Paris") - 1951
Ella Fitzgerald - 1959

Also recorded by: Joyce Breach; Jack Gibbons;
Mary Cleere Haran; Dick Hyman; Kings Singers;
George Shearing; Sarah Walker; George Masso;
Judy Kaye: ...... and others.


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As originally performed in 1924:


ASTAIRE:
Each time you trill a song with Bill or look at Will
I get a chill, I'm gloomy
I won't recall the names of all the men who fall
It's all appalling to me
Of course, I really cannot blame them a bit
For you're a hit where're you flit
I know it's so, but dearie, oh!
You'll never know the blues that go right through me
I've got the you-don't-know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues
The trouble is you have so many from whom to choose
If you should marry Tom, Dick, or harry,
Life would be the bunk, I'd become a monk
I've got the you-don't know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues!

MARTYN:
To Bill and Ben I'd pay attention now and then
But really men would bore me
When I'd begun to think I'd run and be a nun
I met the one man for me
And now just when the sun is starting to beam
Along comes a girl, zip goes a dream!
What will I do away from you?
I feel the future will be blue and stormy
I've got the you-don't-know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues
It may be my heart isn't broken, but there's a bruise.
Through you I've known some days that were lonesome
Though you say that i'm flirting all the time
I've got the you-don-t know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues!

BOTH:
I've got the you-don't-know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues
Oh, how i wish you'd drop an anchor and end your cruise
You're just a duffer who makes me suffer
All the younger set says your heart's to let
I've got the you-don't-know-the-half-of-it-dearie blues!


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As recorded by Ella Fitzgerald:


I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues
Oh how I wish you'd drop that anger, and end your cruise
You're just a duffer, who makes me suffer
All the younger set, says your heart's to let
I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues

Mmmm (scat)

(instrumental bridge)

I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues
Although I know that love's a gamble, I hate to lose
Life will be duller, we'll have no color
Jill without a Jack, makes the future black
I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues

Mmmm (scat)

I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues


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As recorded by Percival Mackey:


I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues
The trouble is you have so many from whom to choose
If you should marry Tom, Dick or Harry
Life would be debunked, I'd become a monk
I've got the "You don't know the half of it, dearie" blues


(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - September 2005)


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