YOU CAN HAVE HIM
From the Broadway Musical "Miss Liberty" (1949)
(Irving Berlin)
Mary McCarty & Allyn McLerie (Broadway Production) - 1949
Dinah Shore & Doris Day - 1949
Fran Warren - 1949
Ella Fitzgerald - 1958
Nina Simone - 1959
Nancy Wilson - 1963
Shirley Bassey - 1965
Eydie Gorme - 1969
Anita Lindblom - 1981
Lina Nyberg - 1993
Ida McBeth - 2006
Kim Nalley - 2006
Also recorded by: Liza Minnelli; Vanda King.
As recorded by ELLA FITZGERALD with
Studio Orchestra conducted by Paul Weston
March 1958, Los Angeles:
You can have him, I don't want him
He's not worth fighting for
Besides, there's plenty more where he came from
I don't want him, you can have him
I'm giving him the sack
And he can go right back where he came from
I could never make him happy
He'd be better off with you
I'm afraid I never loved him
All I ever wanted to do was
Run my fingers through his curly locks
Mend his underwear and darn his socks
Fetch his slippers and remove his shoes
Wipe his glasses when he read the news
Rub his forehead with a gentle touch
Mornings after when he's had too much
Kiss him gently when he cuddled near
Give him babies, one for every year
So you see....
I don't wan' him, you can have him
You can have him, I don't wan' him
For he's not the man for me
(Instrumental Break)
You can have him, I don't want him
He's not worth fighting for
Besides, there's plenty more where he came from
I don't want him, you can have him
He isn't my concern
And he can just return where he came from
I would look a trifle silly
Taking him away from you
That was never my intention
All I ever wanted to do was
Close the window while he soundly slept
Raid the icebox where the food is kept
Cook a breakfast that would please him most
Eggs and coffee snd some buttered toast
Wake him gently with a breakfast tray
After breakfast clear the things away
Bring the papers, and when they've been read
Spend the balance of the day in bed
So you see....
I don't wan' him, you can have him
You can have him, I don't wan' him
For he's not the man for me
********************
As recorded by NANCY WILSON:
You can have him, I don't want him
He's not worth fighting for
Besides, there's plenty more where he came from
You can have him. I don't want him
I'm giving him the sack
And he can go right back where he came from
I could never make him happy
He'd be better off with you
I'm afraid I never loved him
All I ever wanted to do was....
Run my fingers through his curly locks
I'd even mend his underwear and darn his socks
Bring his slippers and remove his shoes
Wipe his glasses when he's read the news
Rub his forehead with a gentle touch
Mornings after when he's had a little too much
Kiss him gently when he cuddles near
And give him babies, one for ev'ry year
So you see
You can have him, I don't want him
I don't want him, you can have him
For he's not the man for me
I would look a trifle silly
Taking him away from you
That was never my intention
All I ever wanted to do was....
Close the window while he soundly slept
And then I'd raid the icebox where the food is kept
And I'd cook some breakfast that would please him most
Ham and eggs and coffee and he's fond of apple butter on toast
I'd Wake him gently with a breakfast tray
After breakfast I'd clear the things away
Then I'd get the newspapers and when they've been read
We'd spend the balance of the day in bed
So you see
You can have him, I don't want him
If you can get him, you can have him
For he's not, no he's not the man for me
********************
As recorded by SHIRLEY BASSEY:
I don't want him, you can have him
He's not worth fighting for
Besides, there's plenty more where he came from
I don't want him, you can have him
I'm giving him the sack
So he can go right back where he came from
I'm afraid I never loved him
He'd be better off with you
I could never make him happy
All I ever wanted to do was....
Run my fingers through his curly locks
Mend his clothes and darn his socks
Fetch his slippers and remove his shoes
Wipe his glasses when he read the news
Rub his forehead with a gentle touch
Mornings after when he had a little too much
Kiss him gently when he cuddled near
And give him babies, one for ev'ry year
So you see
That you can have him, I don't want him
I don't want him, you can have him
Because he's not the man for me
Then I'd close the windows while he soundly slept
Then I'd raid the icebox where the food is kept
I'd cook some breakfast that would please him most
Eggs and coffee and some buttered toast
Aaaahhh-aah-aah-aah, aah-aah-aah-aah-aaaahhh
Then I'd go out and buy him the papers
And when they'd been read
Spend the balance of the day in bed
So you see
That you can have him, I don't want him
I don't want him, you can have him
Because he's not my man
I don't want him, you can have him
You can have him, I don't want him
I don't want him, you can have him
Because he's not the man for me
********************
(Contributed by Peter Akers - December 2009)
(Updated by Mel Priddle - June 2014)
