From the Musical “HELLO, DOLLY!” 1964.
Words and Music by Jerry Herman.
Copyright ©6 Mar 1964 (Published in Vocal Selections)
The sheet music:
Lyrics:
It takes a woman all powdered and pink
To joyously clean out the drain in the sink
And it takes an angel with long golden lashes
And soft Dresden fingers for dumping the ashes
Yes, it takes a woman, a dainty woman
A sweetheart, a mistress, a wife
Oh yes, it takes a woman, a fragile woman
To bring you the sweet things in life!
The frail young maiden who’s constantly there
For washing and blueing and shoeing the mare
And it takes a female for setting the table
And weaning the Guernsey and cleaning the stables
Yes, it takes a woman, a dainty woman
A sweetheart, a mistress, a wife
Oh yes, it takes a woman, a fragile woman
To bring you the sweet things in life!
And in the winter she’ll shovel the ice
And quietly set out the traps for the mice
She’s a joy and treasure for practic’lly speaking
To whom you can turn when the plumbing is leaking
To that dainty woman, that fragile woman
That sweetheart, that mistress, that wife
Oh yes, it takes a woman, a husky woman
To bring you the sweet things in life!