WAS THAT THE HUMAN THING TO DO?
(Sammy Fain / Joe Young)

Bert Lown & His Orch. (vocal: Elmer Feldkamp) - 1932
The Boswell Sisters - 1932
Benny Krueger & His Orch. (vocal: Frank Sylvano) - 1932
Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians - 1932
Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees - 1932
Jimmy Grier & His Orch. - 1932
Sam Browne - 1932
Al Bowlly - 1932
Arthur Lally & His Orch. (vocal: Al Bowlly) - 1932
Rochelle Hudson (feat. in the cartoon film "Bosko In Person") - 1933
Nat King Cole - 1964

Also recorded by:
Stéphane Grappelli; Don Cornell; Kay Starr; Pfister Sisters;
Page Cavanaugh; Ben Selvin & His Orch; Washboard Rhythm Kings;
Royal Society Jazz Orchestra.


To err is human I heard you say
Forgiveness is divine
But all the sweet things that you may say
Can’t mend this heart of mine

Never thought that anyone in their right mind
Could ever treat another human so unkind
Didn’t you sneak away and leave a note behind
Was that the human thing to do?

I always thought that yours was such a heart of gold
But after I was sold on all the tales you told
Didn’t you let your kisses turn from hot to cold?
Was that the human thing to do?

Now I’m not trying to patch things up
‘Cos what’s been done must be
Lord, I wouldn’t even treat a pup
The way you treated me

How could anybody be so darned unfair?
You let me hang around until I learned to care
Didn’t you even laugh and leave me cryin’ there
Was that the human thing to do?

(Musical Break)

Now I just want to be understood
I’m no false alarm
If I couldn’t do a human good
I wouldn’t do ‘em harm

How you let me fall and how you let me be
And when I begged you for a little sympathy
Didn’t you even try to hi-di-hi-di me?
Was that the human thing to do?





(Contributed by Bill Huntley - March 2007)