YOU'VE GOTTA EAT YOUR SPINACH, BABY
From the film "Poor Little Rich Girl" (1936)
(Harry Revel / Mack Gordon)

Alice Faye, Jack Haley & Shirley Temple (Film Soundtrack) - 1937


HALEY:
I want your cheeks to be rosey
Your lips like the colour of wine
Darling, the way that people will say that
"My but you're looking so fine"

FAYE & HALEY:
Oooooooooohhhhhhhh

FAYE:
I want you strong as Apollo
A sturdy and masculine sheik
Darling, the way that people will say that
"My, what a gorgeous physique"
If you want to be like I want you to be
Follow this carefully

You've gotta eat your spinach, baby
That's the proper thing to do
It'll keep you kind of healthy too
And what it did for Popeye it will do for you

You've gotta eat your spinach, baby
To give you lots of TNT
For whenever you're caressing me
Then you'll need every vitamin from A to Z

Please take my advice
Kissing is dangerous, doctors all agree
HALEY:
I'll take your advice
But don't ever kiss anybody but me

FAYE:
You've gotta eat your spinach, baby
If you do you can't go wrong
For it's gonna make you nice and strong
And the stronger you are, the longer you'll live
And the longer I'll have to love you

TEMPLE:
Pardon me, did I hear you say Spinach
FAYE & HALEY:
Spinach
TEMPLE:
I represent all the kids of the nation
Who sent me to see you about it
I bring the message from the kids of the nation
To tell you we can do without it

Kindly listen to me
I'm not alone in my plea
There are dozens and dozens and dozens of us
Nephews and nieces and cousins of us
They want me to say...... Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

No spinach, take away that awful greenery
No spinach, give us lots of jelly beanery
We positively refuse to budge
We'd like lollipops and we like fudge
But no spinach, Hosanna!

FAYE & HALEY:
You've got to eat your spinach, baby
TEMPLE:
No, no, no, no, I'm singing to you
No. no, no, no, Hallelujah!
Spinach stay away from my door

FAYE & HALEY:
We'll tell the bogey man
The big big, bad bad, bogey bogey man
TEMPLE:
Oh, that's just a bluff
You know we don't believe that stuff

FAYE & HALEY:
You gotta eat your spinach, baby
Children have to do as they are told
TEMPLE:
Yes Sir, yes Ma'am
FAYE & HALEY:
Children shouldn't be so very bold
TEMPLE:
Yes Sir, yes Ma'am
FAYE & HALEY:
Or you'll grow up to be a meanie when your old
TEMPLE:
Yes Sir, yes Ma'am

I will to tell all the kids of the nation
Who sent me to see you about it
Children have to do as they are told
HALEY:
Umm-hmm
TEMPLE:
Children shouldn't be so very bold
HALEY:
Umm-hmm
TEMPLE:
Or you will be a meanie when you're old
So, okay...
ALL:
Spinach!


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2005)