Prime Artist:              Irene Bordoni
Lyrics by:                 Ira Gershwin     (b. Israel Gershvin)

Lyrics by:                 Arthur Francis (pseudonym for Ira Gershwin)
Lyrics by:                 Schuyler Greene
Music by:                  Maurice Yvain
From the Show:             For Goodness Sake  1922 (M)

Adapted from:              Avee le Sourire -  Maurice Yvain


Lyrics:
Verse

Ev'ry widow is a flirt, they say,
But they are wrong.
For example, take myself:  I'm rarely indiscreet.
Holding to the straight and narrow way,
I stroll along,
Frowning on each gay Lothario
I chance to meet.
Ev'ry entrance to my heart I shut,
Shunning sentimental dangers-but-

Refrain 1

When two arms steal around me,
What can I do?
Just let my conscience be my guide?
Why should I sink or swim
If squeezing pleases him?
I just keep drifting along the tide.
When two eyes bend above me,
Tender and true,
Sending this message:  "I'm so blue";
I really can't insist
That I was never kissed;
I'm only human-
What can I do?

Refrain 2

So many men are handsome;
What can I do?
When they are near I'm not the same,
I've not a trace of guile;
So if they take my smile
For something stirring-I'm not to blame.
I'm for the straight and narrow,
Nighttime and day.
I never really want to stray.*
So when I meet a lad
Who looks just like an ad
For Arrow Collars-
What can I do?

*Alternate version of refrain 2, lines 9-13:

But nature likes to have her way,
So when some Romeo
Turns all the lights down low,
I've got to let him-
What can I do?

Contributed by Carlene Bogle