TOO GOOD FOR THE AVERAGE MAN

from 1936 New York musical "On Your Toes"
(Richard Rogers (m) lorenz Hart (l) 1936)

as recorded by Blossom Dearie ( vocal & piano)
witn orchestra conducted by Russ Garcia
1960


When Russia was white,
It was white for the classes
And black for the masses,
Unfortunate asses;
All wealth belonged to the few!

When England was Tudor,
The king and his cronies
Had cocktails at Tony's;
The poor had baloneys,
And that's how England grew!

Sing lah and huzzah for the poor folks,
As long as the poor folks are your folks!

Finer things are for the finer folk,
Thus society began.
Caviar for peasants is a joke,
It's too good for the average man!

Supper clubs are for the upper folk,
packed like sardines in a can.
Through the smoke you get your check and choke,
It's too good for the average man!

Each poor man has a wife he must stick to,
Men of fashion can be cocky.
To be caught in flagrante delecto
Is much too good for the average monkey!

All night parties, drinking like a lord,
Fit into our social plan.
Waking in the alcoholic ward
Is too good for the average man!

Fancy nerves are for the fancy class
Since psychiatry began.
Neurostania isn't for the mass,
It's too good for the average man!

Rich old age can blossom like a rose,
Plastic surgeons have a plan.
Cutting up your face to spite your nose,
It's too good for the average man!

Lots of kids for a poor wife or dandy,
Girls of fashion can be choosy.
Birth control and the modus operandi
Are much too good for the average floozy!

Psychoanalysts are all the whirl,
Rich men pay them all they can.
Waking up to find that he's a girl,
It's too good for the average man!






(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2014)