YOU CAN'T BRUSH ME OFF
>From the Broadway Show "Louisiana Purchase" (1940)
(Irving Berlin)
ril Ames & Nick Long Jr. & The Martins (Broadway Production) - 1940
Dick Todd & Dinah Shore - 1940
Kate Smith - 1940
Carnegie Hall Concert Revival - 1996
As recorded by DICK TODD & DINAH SHORE:
DICK TODD:
Why don't you please give in
Just like a Siamese twin
I mean to stick to you
Until you do
I won't take it on the chin
You'll never leave me flat
I'm not a last year's hat
That you can cast aside
I've got my pride
And I won't stand for that
You can't brush me off
(I hear ya, daddy)
As you would a speck of powder
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(Ooh, brush me, brush me)
You can't shout me down
You can yell but I'll yell louder
You can try, but you can't brush me off
You can say you're out, but I'll keep phoning
You can tell me goodbye
You can tell me but I won't go, no
You can't leave me cold (Braggin' again)
As you would a plate of chowder
You can try, but you can't brush me off
DINAH SHORE:
You can't brush me off (Sue me)
As you would a fresh mosquito
(Ah, Jersey, hah?)
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(That's what you think)
You can't lock me out
(Hah, double talk, huh?)
Like a frightened farmer's daughter
(Have you heard this one?)
Now wait, oh, you can't brush me off
(Can't blame me for tryin')
You can drop a hint, but I won't take it
You can tell me bad news
I intend to refuse to go
(I'll run ya right out of town)
Oh no, you can't give me back
As you would a leaden quarter
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(Oh, I know)
********************
As performed at Carnegie Hall in 1966:
Why don't you please give in
Just like a Siamese twin
I mean to stick to you
Until you do
I won't take it on the chin
You'll never leave me flat
I'm not a last year's hat
That you can cast aside
I've got my pride
And I won't stand for that
You can't brush me off
As you would a speck of powder
You may try, but you can't brush me off
You can't shout me down
You can yell, but I'll yell louder
You may try, but you can't brush me off
You can say you're out, but I'll keep phoning
You can tell me goodbye
You can tell me, but I won't go
No, you can't leave me cold
As you would a plate of chowder
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(What is this all about)
(You've got it wrong, no doubt)
(What's all this brushin' off)
(Stop rushin' off)
(Stop lookin' for some way out)
(He wants you for his wife)
(Sharing his care and strife)
(And that may not be fun)
(For when it's done)
(You're stuck with him for life)
You can't brush me off
As you would a poor relation
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(You can try, but you can't brush him off)
You can't leave me flat
Like a train down at the station
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(Don't leave him at the side of the tracks)
You can drop a hint, but I won't take it
You may injure my pride
Still I'll never decide to go
No, you can't send me out
As you would an invitation
You may try, but you can't brush me off
(You can't brush her off like any invitation, noooo)
(No, you can't brush, brush her off)
(As you would a speck of powder)
(You can try, but you can't brush her off)
(You can't shout him down)
(You can yell, but he'll yell louder)
(You can try, but you can't brush him off)
(He can drop a hint)
Well, I won't take it
(He can tell you bad news)
I intend to refuse
You intend to refuse
(She intends to refuse to go, no, no)
(You can't leave her cold like a plate of chowder)
He can try (He can try)
She can try (Try and try)
(But when he dances close to you)
(You know it thrills you through and through)
(So then start brushin' it off)
(You know you won't)
(You'll never brush her off)
(You know you'll never brush her off)
(You can't brush her off)
(You can't brush her off like a speck of powder)
(Yell her down, 'cause she'll yell louder)
(Let her out like a drop of water)
(Or leave her flat like a farmer's daughter)
(You can't brush her off as you would her Aunt)
(You can't, no, you can't, you can't brush her off)
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2013)
