But Not for Me

Judy Garland Database

Lyrics to "But Not for Me"

Words by Ira Gershwin, Music by George Gershwin, 1930
For more information see Judy Movie Songs Page
Performed by Judy Garland in the film Girl Crazy, 1943

Lyrics as sung by Judy in the film:

Verse and refrain as arranged and orchestrated by Conrad Salinger

Old Man Sunshine - Listen, you!
Never tell me Dreams Come True!
Just try it -
And I'll start a riot.
Beatrice Fairfax - don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care;
I'm certain
It's the Final Curtain.
I never want to hear
From any cheer-
Ful Polyannas,
Who tell you Fate
Supplies a Mate -
It's all bananas!

They're writing songs of love,
But not for me;
A lucky star's above,
But not for me.

With Love to Lead the Way,
I've found more skies of Gray
Than any Russian play
Could Guarantee.

I was a fool to fall
And Get That Way;
Heigh ho! Alas! And al-
So Lackaday!

Although I can't dismiss
The mem'ry of his kiss -
I guess he's not for me.

Lyrics as originally written by Ira Gershwin

Introduced by Ginger Rogers and Willie Howard
in the Broadway production of Girl Crazy, 1930
(from the book, The Complete Lyrics of Ira Gershwin,
by Robert Kimball, Knopf 1993)

VERSE (Molly):

Old Man Sunshine - Listen, you!
Never tell me Dreams Come True!
Just try it -
And I'll start a riot.
Beatrice Fairfax - don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care;
I'm certain
It's the Final Curtain.
I never want to hear
From any cheer-
Ful Polyannas,
Who tell you Fate
Supplies a Mate -
It's all bananas!

REFRAIN 1:

They're writing songs of love,
But not for me;
A lucky star's above,
But not for me.

With Love to Lead the Way,
I've found more Clouds of Gray
Than any Russian play
could guarantee.

I was a fool to fall
And Get That Way;
Hiegh ho! Alas! And al-
So Lackaday!

Love ain't done right by Nell;
However - what the hell!
I guess he's not for me.

REFRAIN 2:

He's knocking on a door,
But not for me;
He'll plan a two by four,
But not for me.

I've heard that Love's a Game;
I'm puzzled, just the same -
Was I the Moth or Flame...?
I'm all at sea.

It started off so swell,
This "Let's Pretend";
It all began so well;
But what an end!

The climax of a plot
Should be the marriage knot,
But there's no knot for me.

REPRISE (Geiber):

They're writing songs of love,
But not for me;
A lucky star's above,
But not for me.

With Love to Lead the Way,
I've found more skies of Gray
Than any Russian play
Could Guarantee.

I was a fool to fall
And Get That Way;
Heigh ho! Alas! And al-
So Lackaday!

Although I can't dismiss
The mem'ry of her kiss -
I guess she's not for me.

[Judy's version contributed by Ruth]