It’s Got to Be Love
In Junior Dolan’s music class, Frankie shares a love song she’s just finished composing. Like other comic love songs by Rodgers & Hart, “It’s Got to Be Love” is both a romantic number and a parody of one. The lyric, in which the singer lists all the possible reasons for feeling unwell, regards love as more of an ailment than a blessing.
COVERS & POP CULTURE
LISTEN
LISTEN
“It’s Got to Be Love” LYRICS
Frankie:
I love your eyes
But I wouldn’t know the color –
Aquamarine
Or em’rald green.
And if your hair
Couldn’t possibly be duller
The shade I see
Looks gold to me:
That’s how naive I’ve grown to be!
Mais oui!
It’s got to be love!
It couldn’t be tonsillitis;
It feels like neuritis,
But nevertheless it’s love.
Don’t tell me the pickles and pie à la mode
They served me
Unnerved me
And made my heart a broken-down pump!
It’s got to be love!
It isn’t the morning after
That makes every rafter
Go spinning around above.
I’m sure that it’s fatal, or why do I get
That sinking feeling?
I think that I’m dead,
But nevertheless it’s only love!
Junior:
It’s got to be love!
It could have been fallen arches
Or too many starches,
But nevertheless it’s love.
Don’t tell me the lamp in the barbershop
Gave me sunstroke.
With one stroke,
You made me feel like yesterday’s hash!
It’s got to be love!
It couldn’t be indigestion.
Beyond any question,
I’m fluttery as a dove.
I’ve heard people say it’s no worse than a cold.
But oh, that fever!
I’m burned to a crisp,
But nevertheless it’s only love!
Classmates:
Hey! Hey!
Frankie:
Come on in!
Classmates:
Love! Love!
It’s got to be love!
Love! Love!
It’s got to be love!
Frankie:
It’s got to be love!
It couldn’t be tonsillitis;
It feels like neuritis,
But nevertheless it’s love.
Don’t tell me the pickles and pie à la mode
They served me
Unnerved me
And made my heart a broken-down pump!
Frankie & Classmates:
It’s got to be love!
It isn’t the morning after
That makes every rafter
Go spinning around above.
I’m sure that it’s fatal, or why do I get
That sinking feeling?
I think that I’m dead,
But nevertheless it’s only love!
"It's Got to Be Love" by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
©1936 by Chappell & Co., Inc. Copyright Renewed.
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