About the Operas
by Jerome Kern
IT NEVER, NEVER CAN BE LOVE
DICK
So here’s my hand, we’re friends you see
MARIETTA
Certainly, certainly.
You’ll promise you’ll never make love at me?
DICK
No! No! No! You will see.
MARIETTA
You’ll never try just to kiss my hand
DICK
I’m not that foolish kind of a man
BOTH
Then I’m sure, if you’re sure
And I’m sure, I am sure
That we mutually understand.
We’ll call it bond platonic
Or friendship tried and true
We’ll call us just good comrades
Or simply chums will do
You may say I’m your partner,
My claim all claims above
But solemnly swear,
It never, never can be love
MARIETTA
I see I don’t appeal to you
DICK
Oh well, you’ll do.
In friendship you’ll find that I’m tried and true
MARIETTA
Of course. Me too.
I s’pose your love must be tall and grand?
DICK
I shall never love, so here’s my hand
BOTH
Then I’m sure, if you’re sure
And I’m sure, I am sure
That we mutually understand.
We’ll call it bond platonic
Or friendship tried and true
We’ll call us just good comrades
Or simply chums will do
You may say I’m your partner,
My claim all claims above
But solemnly swear,
It never, never can be love
ITALIAN STREET SONG
MARIETTA
Ah my heart is back in Napoli
Dear Napoli, dear Napoli
And I seem to hear again in dreams
Her revelry, her sweet revelry
The mandolinas playing sweet
The pleasant sound of dancing feet
Oh, could I return, oh, joy complete
Napoli, Napoli, Napoli
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, ay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Mandolinas gay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, aye. La, la, la, ha, ha, ha, Zing
Boom, ay
La, la, la, la, ha, ha, ha zing, boom, ay
The mandolinas playing sweet, the
Pleasant sound of dancing feet
Oh, could I return, oh, joy complete
Napoli, Napoli, Napoli
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, ay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Mandolinas gay
Zing, zing, zizzy, zizzy, zing, zing
Boom, boom, aye. La, la, la, ha, ha, ha, Zing
Boom, ay
La, la, la, la, ha, ha, ha zing, boom, ay
I’M FALLING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE
DICK
I’ve a very strange feeling I’ve ne’er felt before
Tis a kind of a grind of depression
My heart’s acting strangely: it feels rather sore
At least, it gives me that impression
My pulses leap madly without any cause
Believe me I’m telling you truly
I’m gay without pause then sad without cause
My spirits are truly unruly
For I’m falling in love with someone
Some one girl
I’m falling in love with someone
Head a-whirl
Yes I’m falling in love with someone
Plain to see
I’m sure I could love someone madly
If someone would only love me
Now I don’t mind confessing that I used to scoff
At this sort of a sport of flirtation
I used to believe that I’d never be caught
In this foolish but fond complication.
I’m losing all relish for things that were dear
I’m looking for trouble and know it
When someone is near, I’m feeling quite queer
But I heartily hope I don’t show it.
For I’m falling in love with someone
Some one girl
I’m falling in love with someone
Head a-whirl
Yes I’m falling in love with someone
Plain to see
I’m sure I could love someone madly
If someone would only love me
AH! SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE
DICK
Ah! Sweet mystery of life at last I’ve found thee
Ah! I know at last the secret of it all
All the longing seeking striving waiting yearning
DICK
The burning hope
The joy and idle tears that fall
For tis love and love alone the world is seeking
And tis love and love alone that can repay
MARIETTA
Ah! At last I’ve found thee
found thee at last!
Tis love! Tis love!
BOTH
Tis the answer tis the end and all of living
For it is love alone that rules for aye!