13.

I’m as mild and as meek as a mouse;
When I hear a command I obey.
But I know of a spot in my house
Where no one can stand in my way.

In my own little corner, in my own little chair,
I can be whatever I want to be.
On the wings of my fancy I can fly anywhere,
And the world will open its arms to me.

I’m a young Egyptian princess or a milkmaid,
I’m the greatest prima donna in Milan.
I’m an heiress who has always had her silk made
By her own flock of silkworms in Japan.

I’m a girl men go mad for, love’s a game I can play
With a cool and confident kind of air,
Just as long as I stay in my own little corner,
All alone in my own little chair.

[piano interlude]

…I can be whatever I want to be.
I’m a thief in Calcutta, I’m a queen in Peru,
I’m a mermaid dancing upon the sea.

I’m a huntress on an African safari,
It’s a dangerous sort of sport and yet it’s fun.
In the night I sally forth to seek my quarry,
And I find I forgot to bring my gun!
I am lost in the jungle, all alone and unarmed
When I meet a lioness in her lair…
Then I’m glad to be back in my own little corner,
All alone in my own little chair.

Why would a fellow want a girl like her?
A frail and fluffy beauty?
What can’t a fellow ever once prefer a solid girl like me?
She’s a frothy little bubble
With a flimsy kind of charm,
And with very little trouble
I could break her little arm! Oh! Oh!
Why would a fellow want a girl like her?
So obviously unusual?
Why can’t a fellow ever once prefer
A usual girl like me?

Her face is exquisite, I suppose,
But no more exquisite than a rose is.
Her skin may be delicate and soft,
But not any softer than a doe’s is.
Her neck is no longer than a swan’s,
She’s only as dainty as a daisy.
She’s only as graceful as a bird,
So why is the fellow going crazy?

Oh, why would a fellow want a girl like her?
A girl who’s merely lovely?
Why can’t a fellow ever once prefer a girl who’s merely me?
She’s a frothy little bubble
With a frilly sort of air,
And with very little trouble
I could pull out all her hair! (ha ha ha ha!)
Why would a fellow want a girl like her?
A girl who’s merely lovely?
Why can’t a fellow ever once prefer a girl who’s merely me?
What’s the matter with the man?
What’s the matter with the man?
What’s the matter with the man?

Ten minutes ago I saw you;
I looked up as you came through the door.
My head started reeling,
You gave me the feeling
The room had no ceiling or floor.
Ten minutes ago I met you,
And we murmured our ‘how-do-you-do’s.
I wanted to ring out the bells,
And fling out my arms,
And sing out the news:

I have found her, she’s an angel
With the dust of the stars in her eyes.
We are dancing, we are flying,
And she’s taking me back to the skies!

In the arms of my love I’m flying
Over mountain and meadow and glen,
And I like it so well
That for all I can tell
I can never come down again,
I may never come down to earth again.

Ten minutes ago I saw you;
You looked up as I came through the door.
My head started reeling,
You gave me the feeling
The room had no ceiling or floor.

Ten minutes ago I met you,
And we murmured our ‘how-do-you-do’s.
I wanted to ring out the bells,
And fling out my arms,
And sing out the news:

I have found him, he’s an angel,
He’s the dust of the stars in my eyes.
We are dancing, we are flying,
And he’s taking me back to the skies!

In the arms of my love I’m flying
Over mountain and meadow and glen,
And I like it so well
That for all I can tell
I can never come down again,
I may never come down to earth again.

A lovely night, a lovely night,
A finer night you know you’ll never see.
You meet your prince,
A charming prince,
As charming as a prince will ever be.
The stars in a hazy heaven tremble above you
While he is whispering, “Darling, I love you.”
You say goodbye, away you fly,
But on your lips you keep a kiss.
All your life you’ll dream of this
Lovely, lovely night.

Do I love you because you’re beautiful,
Or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you
A girl too lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you’re wonderful,
Or are you wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention
Of a lover’s dream,
Or are you really as beautiful as you seem?

[instrumental]

Am I making believe I see in you
A man too perfect to be really true?
Do I want you because you’re wonderful,
Or are you wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention
Of a lover’s dream,
Or are you really as wonderful
As you seem?