I Cain’t Say No

Rodgers & HammersteinOklahoma

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I Cain’t Say No

Lyrics By Oscar Hammerstein II  Music By Richard Rodgers

After promising two different men she’d accompany them to the box social, Ado Annie can’t bring herself to refuse either one. Laurey asks, “Which one d’you like best?” and Ado Annie earnestly responds, “Whutever one I’m with!”

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“I Cain’t Say No” LYRICS

Ado Annie:
It ain’t so much a question of not knowin’ whut to do,
I knowed whut’s right and wrong since I been ten.
I heared a lot of stories—and I reckon they are true—
About how girls’re put upon by men.
I know I mustn’t fall into the pit,
But when I’m with a feller—I fergit!

I’m jist a girl who cain’t say no,
I’m in a turrible fix.
I always say, “Come on, le’s go!”
Jist when I orta say nix!

When a person tries to kiss a girl
I know she orta give his face a smack.
But as soon as someone kisses me
I somehow sorta wanta kiss him back.

I’m jist a fool when lights are low.
I cain’t be prissy and quaint—
I ain’t the type thet c’n faint—
How c’n I be whut I ain’t?
I cain’t say no!

Whut you goin’ to do when a feller gets flirty
And starts to talk purty?
Whut you goin’ to do?
S’posin’ ’at he says ’at yer lips’re like cherries,
Er roses, er berries?
Whut you goin’ to do?
S’posin’ ’at he says ’at you’re sweeter’n cream
And he’s gotta have cream er die?
Whut you goin’ to do when he talks thet way?
Spit in his eye?

I’m jist a girl who cain’t say no,
Cain’t seem to say it at all.
I hate to disserpoint a beau
When he is payin’ a call.

Fer a while I ack refined and cool,
A-settin’ on the velveteen settee—
’Nen I think of thet ol’ golden rule,
And do fer him whut he would do fer me.

I cain’t resist a Romeo
In a sombrero and chaps.
Soon as I sit on their laps
Somethin’ inside of me snaps—
I cain’t say no!

Encore Refrain
I’m jist a girl who cain’t say no.
Kissin’s my favorite food.
With er without the mistletoe
I’m in a holiday mood.

Other girls are coy and hard to catch,
But other girls ain’t havin’ any fun.
Ev’ry time I lose a wrestlin’ match
I have a funny feelin’ that I won!

Though I c’n feel the undertow,
I never make a complaint
Till it’s too late fer restraint,
Then when I want to I cain’t—
I cain’t say no!