From the musical “Courtin’ Time”, 1951.
Words and music by Jack Lawrence and Don Walker.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
A man never marries a wife
He marries a beautiful dream
A man doesn’t look for a crack-a-jack cook
Or a girl who can sew a straight seam
A man never marries a wife
He marries a myth in his mind
The shy little mouse who’s a gem keepin’ house
Isn’t quite what he fancies to find
He’s Prince Charming who’s seeking a Princess
Vowing to marry no other
But after he’s tied to his fairyland bride
He wants her to cook like his mother
But a man never marries a wife
So plan to fit into his schemes
You may be a dream of a girl, my girl
But first be the girl of his dreams
A man never marries a wife
He marries the dream in his heart
She won’t need a brain if she drives him insane
With a form fit for calendar art
A man never marries a cook
Although you may cook to his taste
A man doesn’t boast of the size of her roast
But he boasts of the size of her waist
He wants someone who’s timid and helpless
Always be on the defensive
But after a year, when he’s calling you, “Dear”
He means that you’re too darned expensive
But a man never marries a wife
A girl has to go to extremes
You may be a cook who’s a pearl, my girl
You may take a broom for a whirl, my girl
You may be a dream of a girl, my girl
But first be the girl of his dreams
Sung here by Vancha March: