From the musical “Fifty Million Frenchmen”, 1929
Words and music by Cole Porter
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
I’ve wasted years enslaving myself
By behaving myself
I’ve wasted tears consoling myself
For controlling myself
But when the right man arrives
It’s a question of our two lives
So that’s when I’ll start undressing myself
By confessing myself
I’ll say to him
Chorus:
I’m so awfully weary
Doing just what I should
I’m getting so bored
With virtue’s reward
So please don’t make me be good
Gee, but life can be dreary
When you’re misunderstood
In spite of my rep, I’m all full of pep
So please don’t make me be good
Though Heaven may be okay
When life’s long journey ends
I’d rather go down below
And be with my intimate friends
God bless ’em
I could love you, my deary
More than anyone could
You can make me, sweetheart
But please don’t make me be good