From Ziegfeld Follies, 1935
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by Vernon Duke
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
It’s an old, old, old variation
On the very oldest of themes
It’s the one that starts as flirtation
And that ends in broken dreams
It’s the feeling when he enfolds you
He’ll forget you soon as he’s gone
But what can you do?
You’re in love and you hold on
Refrain:
Words without music
Smoke without flame
Charming phrases
That sing my praises
And call my name
Nights without magic
Days without end
Same old story
The empty glory
Of ‘Let’s Pretend’
Had I had an inkling
That he could not be true
These blues of mine could never start
But, stars above were twinkling
And then before I knew
He was locked up in my heart
I’ll hear words without music
All my life long
Hoping, praying
That what he’s saying
Will turn to song
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: