From the musical “LOUISIANA PURCHASE”, 1940.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Copyright ©10 May 1940.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
VERSE 1
Why do I allow my heart to make decisions for me?
Why do I keep list’ning to my heart?
Why do I get so involved when I would rather be free?
Maybe it’s because I’m not so smart
CHORUS
Fools fall in love
Only lunatics fall in love
And I’m a fool
Fools seek romance
Only idiots take a chance
And I’m a fool
I should be able to put all my feelings aside
I should be able to take one free ride in my stride
But fools cannot play
They get serious right away and break the rule
My heart’s on fire when I know I ought to keep cool
Fools fall in love and I’m such a fool
VERSE 2
Why do you get so involved when you would rather be free?
Why not give your heart what it may crave?
Why not let your heart decide the question “Which will it be—
Old man’s darling or a young man’s slave?”
REPEAT CHORUS
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: