From the musical “Stop! Look! Listen!”, 1916
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Denese Coulbeck:
Lyrics
- I had a diff’rent teacher ev’ry year
They taught me ev’rything and yet I fear
My education’s been neglected, dear
They never taught me to love
I don’t know that much about Geography
Grammar, Arithmetic or History
But I know ev’rything about love from A to Z
Chorus
Teach me how to love, I’d like to know, sir
If you want to love, come over closer
Do you know the game, dear?
That’s my middle name, dear
Call me turtle dove, I’d like to hear it
It will fit you like a glove
I’d like to know a teeny weeny bit about it
I could explain it to you, if your lips were pouted
Look at ’em doin’ it! Hold steady!
Look at ’em doin’ it!
Oh, oh, it’s very good, Eddy
Won’t you teach me some more?
- How many lessons do you think I’ll need?
Not many lessons if you’ll only heed
You know a lot about it, yes, indeed
I’ve taken lessons for years
I’d like to understand it through and through
Practice makes perfect, so it’s up to you
I’m waiting
‘Twon’t be long before you’re a teacher, too