Old Fogey’s Favourites

This is one of the Gershwins’ most unusual and beautiful songs. It is differently constructed from many of their other songs. The chorus is only 18 bars long, compared to the usual 32 bars of the standard popular song. In the standard popular song the 32 bar chorus is often the only thing we ever get to hear. In their original context, a show, revue or musical, they would have come with a verse, at least as an introduction to the song. Verses tend now to get left out. With ‘I’ve Got a Crush on You’ the chorus itself, beautiful as it is, is not long enough to sustain a performance alone. It needs the verse to make sense of it. Because of this, and more than in any other song I know, the verse is totally integrated with the chorus. The lyrics are below - chorus in italics. The performance is by Ella Fitzgerald with Ellis Larkins at the piano, from a recording made in 1950.

Hmmmmm I’ve got a crush on someone. Guess who

I’ve got a crush on you, sweetie pie

All day and night time hear me sigh 

I never had the least notion that

I could fall with so much emotion

Could you coo, could you care

For a cunning cottage we could share

The world will pardon my mush

‘Cause I’ve a crush my baby on you

How glad the million laddies from millionaires to caddies

Would be to capture me

But you had such persistence, you wore down my resistance

I fell and it was swell

You’re my big and brave and handsome Romeo

How I won you I shall never never know

It’s not that you’re attractive

But, oh, my heart grew active

When you came into view

I’ve got a crush on you, sweetie pie

All the day and night-time hear me sigh

I never had the least notion that

I could fall with so much emotion

Could you coo, could you care

For a cunning cottage that we could share

The world will pardon my mush

‘Cause I have got a crush, my baby, on you

I’m not sure what a ‘cunning cottage’ is, though. Am I hearing it right?

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