"Bewitched" Lyrics

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 1/26/15 at 3:16pm

I have heard many, many versions of "Bewitched" and am curious about the lyric changes/alterations that have happened over the years.

In the original production in 1940, there were a number of lines by Hart that prevented the song getting recorded. "Couldn't sleep and wouldn't sleep, until I could sleep where I shouldn't sleep" comes to mind.

Also, from the 1952 Revival Recording, she sings "If your dreamboat is leaking, and your pal ain't your pal, geometrically speaking, just keep him vertical." In a recording by Ella Fitzgerald (It's so damn good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fzZ4l2H5-w) she sings something vaguely similar but obviously different in idea: "When he talks he is seeking words to get off his chest. Horizontally speaking, he's at his very best."

Another comes to mind. "Lost my heart but what of it. He is cold, I agree. He can laugh and I love it, although the laugh's on me." But in the original recording (done by the 1950 studio cast) it's "Lost my heart but what of it. My mistake, I agree. He's a laugh but I love it, because the laugh's on me."

I heard they "sanitized" many of the lyrics for the film version of "Pal Joey" with Frank Sinatra. So is it possible the lyrics are not fully Harts, or are they just used from various drafts or versions he wrote for the song? I know he would commonly write several additional verses for songs like Cole Porter.