If I Could Sing

Words and music by Milton Ager.
A duet song from 1947.
Lyrics revised in 1961.


Sheet music provided by Laurence Rubenstein:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

Wanna sing, wanna sing
But I never stand a chance
When I try they all cry
“Better go into your dance”
I may not be the answer
To a bobby-soxers pray’r
Nature made me a dancer
And stopped right there
And it doesn’t seem quite fair

Chorus
If I could sing, I’d sing about you
You got that certain thing about you
That makes me want to sing
Just like Frankie, Perry or Bing
If I could sing, I’d sing your praises
I got an ear for Wagnerian phrases
But I’m neither Mister Pinta
Nor Mister Melchior, never-the-less
I’ve got a feeling for music
There isn’t a doubt
And they say “Music and murder
Will always come out”
So I intend to keep on trying
Until I’m able to sing you a rhyme
Well, what do you know
I’ve been singing all of the time

Chorus
If I could dance, I’d dance around you
My ballet technique would astound you
I’d spin ‘n spin and spin
Till your heart would melt ‘n give in
You’d be my fav’rite ballerina
My Toumanora, Markova, Zorina
And you’d have Pavlova
Turning over when you’d begin
It’s plain to see our hearts are beating
In rhythm, there isn’t a doubt
They say that “Where there is rhythm
It’s bound to bust out”
So I intend to keep on trying
Until I am able to spin on a dime
Well, what do you know, I’ve been dancing
What do you know, I’ve been singing
What do you know, I’ve been singing/dancing
All of the time


Sung here with male part by Vancha March
Female part by the eldest Ms. Bear: