YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW THE LANGUAGE
From the film "The Road To Rio" (1947)
(Johnny Burke / Jimmy Van Heusen)
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters (Film Soundtrack) - 1947
Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston & His Orch.) - 1948
Buddy Clark with Xavier Cugat & His Orch. - 1948
Tex Beneke & The Glenn Miller Orch. (vocal: Moonlight Serenaders) - 1948
Peggy Lee (Radio Transcription) - 1948
Lena Horne - 1958
Anita Gravine - 1986
As recorded by BING CROSBY and THE ANDREWS SISTERS:
AS: Mister Sweeney
BC: Hello
BC:
We've a problem that is apt to spoil the trip
'Cause when we get off the ship
We know we'll never understand the language
We won't be hip!
BC:
Oh, now, Miss Andrews
After due deliberation of your problem
All you do is wooin' and wobble
Which in any language always means a miss, a kiss
AS: And this?
BC: Tapontinia (sic)
AS: Ay, Amigo, now we know
BC: Now they know
AS: Yes, we know
BC: Now they know
AS: Yes, we know
BC: Now they know
AS:
Supposin' you need a vacation
Brazil is the place you should be
BC:
So you can't understand what they're saying
Or you can't read a sign that you see
ALL:
But, you don't have to know the language
With the moon in the sky
And a girl in your arms
And a look in her eyes
BC:
You stop at the Copacabana
With Sugar Loaf Mountain in view
AS:
So the words on the menu mean nothing
You can't ask a soul what to do
ALL:
But, you don't have to know the language
With the moon in the sky
And the girl in your arms
And a look in her eyes
BC: That the good one?
AS: No, this one!
BC:
When she smiles your way
What more would you want anyone to say?
So you sigh, just sigh
ALL:
You don't have to mention that Yankee phrase, "Ay-Ay"
AS:
Perhaps when you end your vacation
You bring back a bit of Brazil
BC:
So you can't understand what she's saying
You need an interpreter still
ALL: But, you don't have to know the language
BC: With the moon in the sky
AS: And a girl in your arms
BC: And a look in her eye
ALL:
I know you don't have to know the language
If you don't want to say goodbye
AS: With the moon in the sky
BC: And the girl in your arms
AS: It's the look in her eyes
ALL:
You don't have to know
You don't have to know
BC: The language isn't necessary
ALL:
'Cause the meaning doesn't vary
If you got the charm it takes
The language isn't necessary
BC: When she smiles your way
AS: What more would you want anyone to say
BC: So you sigh, just sigh
ALL: You don't have to mention that Yankee phrase "Ay-Ay"
ALL:
Perhaps when you end your vacation
You bring back a bit of Brazil
So you can't understand what she's saying
You need an interpreter still
ALL:
But, you don't even have to know the language
BC:
With the moon in the sky
And the girl in your arms
And a look in her eyes
AS: Ay-ay-ay-ay
ALL:
No, you don't have to know the language
If you don't want to say goodbye
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2014)
********************
As recorded by LENA HORNE
with Lennie Hayton & His Orchestra:
Supposin' you need a vacation,
Brazil is the place you should be;
So you can't understand what they're saying,
And you can't read a sign that you see.
But you don't have to know the language,
With the moon in the sky and a boy in your arms and a look in his eye!
You stop at the Copacabana,
With Sugar Loaf Mountain in view;
So the words on a menu mean nothing,
You can't ask a soul what to do!
But you don't have to know the language,
With the moon in the sky and a boy in your arms and a look in his eye!
When he smiles your way,
What more would you want anybody to say?
So you sigh, just sigh,
You don't have to mention that phrase, "Aye-aye!".
Perhaps when you end your vacation,
You'll bring back a bit of Brazil.
So you can't understand what he's saying,
You need an interpreter still!
But you don't have to know the language,
With the moon in the sky and a boy in your arms and a look in his eye!
No, you don't have to know the language,
If you don't want to say goodbye!
When he smiles your way,
What more would you want anybody to say?
So you sigh, just sigh,
You don't have to mention that phrase, "Aye-aye!".
Perhaps when you end your vacation,
You'll bring back a bit of Brazil.
So you can't understand what he's saying,
You need an interpreter still!
But you don't have to know the language,
With the moon in the sky and a boy in your arms and a look in his eye!
No, you don't have to know the language,
If you don't want to say goodbye!
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2014)
