YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ITALIAN
Lyrics: Mel Mandel - Music: Norman Sachs

Pat Cooper with Henry Jerome and his Orchestra, 
arranged by George Siravo


The moon is high, the lights are low,
And there are six little words I want you to know:

You don't have to be Italian 
If you want to hold me tight.
You can put away the wine press;
We're not gonna drink tonight.

You don't have to serve linguini;
You don't have to wash my shirt.
You don't have to be Italian.
(Let's just say it wouldn't hurt.)

I've waited so long for this moment,
And now at last we're alone.
Oh, I'd much rather taste your lips
Than my mother's minestrone.

You don't have to cook kapusta.
Can you read my little prose?
You are one girl in a million.
You don't have to be Sicilian,
My sweet Maria Elena Schwartz.

La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da ....
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da ....
You don't have to be Italian,
You just have to be a girl.






 



(Transcribed by Lou Rugani - The Music of the Stars (WLIP) - October 2011)