From the Musical “ANYTHING GOES,” 1934.
Words and Music by Cole Porter.
Copyright ©19 Nov 1934.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics:
VERSE 1
At words poetic, I’m so pathetic
That I always have found it best,
Instead of getting them off my chest,
To let ’em rest unexpressed.
I hate parading my serenading,
As I’ll probably miss a bar,
But if this ditty is not so pretty,
At least it’ll tell you
How great you are.
REFRAIN 1
You’re the top!
You’re the Colosseum.
You’re the top!
You’re the Louvre Museum.
You’re the melody of a symphony by Strauss,
You’re a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare sonnet,
You’re Mickey Mouse.
You’re the Nile,
You’re the Tow’r of Pisa.
You’re the smile
On the Mona Lisa.
I’m a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top!
VERSE 2
Your words poetic are not pathetic.
On the other hand, boy, you shine,
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine down my spine.
Now gifted humans like Vincent Youmans
Might think that your song is bad,
But for a person who’s just rehearsin’
Well, I gotta say this my lad:
REFRAIN 2
You’re the top!
You’re Mahatma Gandhi,
You’re the top!
You’re Napoleon brandy.
You’re the purple light of a summer night in Spain,
You’re the National Gall’ry,
You’re Garbo’s sal’ry,
You’re cellophane.
You’re sublime,
You’re a turkey dinner,
You’re the time
Of the Derby winner.
I’m a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop,
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top!
Additional Lyrics (Choruses 3 – 7)
REFRAIN 3
You’re the top!
You’re a Ritz hot toddy
You’re the top!
You’re a Brewster body
You’re the boats that glide on the sleepy Zuider Zee
You’re a Nathan panning, you’re Bishop Manning
You’re broccoli
You’re a prize
You’re a night at Coney
You’re the eyes of Irene Bordoni
I’m a broken doll, a fol-de-rol, a blop
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top
REFRAIN 4
You’re the top
You’re an Arrow collar
You’re the top
You’re a Coolidge dollar
You’re the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire
You’re an O’Neill drama, you’re Whistler’s mama
You’re Camembert
You’re a rose, you’re Inferno’s Dante
You’re the nose on the great Durante
I’m just in the way as the French would say “De trop”
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top
REFRAIN 5
You’re the top
You’re a Waldorf salad
You’re the top
You’re a Berlin ballad
You’re a baby grand of a lady and a gent
You’re an old dutch master, you’re Mrs. Astor
You’re Pepsodent
You’re romance
You’re the Steppes of Russia
You’re the pants
On a Roxy usher
I’m a lazy lout that’s just about to stop
But if baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top
REFRAIN 6
You’re the top!
You’re a dance in Bali
You’re the top!
You’re a hot tamale
You’re an angel, you simply too, too, too diveen
You’re a Botticelli, you’re Keats, you’re Shelley
You’re Ovaltine
You’re a boon
You’re the dam at Boulder
You’re the moon
Over Mae West’s shoulder
I’m a nominee of the G.O.P. or GOP
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top!
REFRAIN 7
You’re the top!
You’re the Tower of Babel
You’re the top!
You’re the Whitney Stable
By the River Rhine, you’re a sturdy stein of beer
You’re a dress from Saks’s, you’re next year’s taxes,’
You’re stratosphere
You’re my thoist
You’re a Drumstick Lipstick
You’re da foist
In da Irish Svipstick
I’m a frightened frog that can find no log to hop
But if, baby, I’m the bottom
You’re the top!
Sung by Laurence and Lisa Rubenstein: