Bought and Paid For

by Jerome D. Kern (music) and Harry B. Smith (lyrics)

Sheet music (click to browse)

(She.) Love used to be such a perfect dream of romance,
Now its a bus'ness deal,
(He.) Right upto date is Romeo,
(She.) And Juliet is not so slow.

(He.) For our modern marriages leave nothing to chance,
Lovers no longer kneel,
(She.) Love is not a sentimental song impassioned
(He.) Moonlight, music, Poetry and flow'rs all

(She.) That's old fashioned now
(He.) That's old fashioned.

Girls never say they will honor and obey,
They're much too wise,
(She.) That is quite passé,
(He.) But leave that to me and in time well

Refrain.
(She.) You're the prize I played for,
that's what men are made for,
Now your liberty you resign,
You are mine
Bought and paid for.

Cupid's ship entices,
All must pay his prices,
If a bargain you seem to be,
you're sent home C. O. D.

(He.) But we'll be happy you and I
In spite of any marriage tie.
Let us pretend we don't care what the world discovers

(She.) Let us imagine we are free
Like turtle doves we will agree,
(Both.) And all the world will say we're a pair of foolish lovers

(She.) Because dear, Girls in the olden days were clinging young vines
Men the oaks they say
(He.) That clinging vine is now a joke,
(She.) Unless it's she who is the oak.

(He.) That sort of theory is folly you'll find,
Battles the man must fight
(She.) So must she, she has to be her own defender

(He.) He's the strong one and his motto must be:
(She.) Don't offend her please.
(He.) No surrender.

If we are one, we will soon decide which one,
If you or I.
(She.) Either you or I.
(He.) When we disagree leave it all to me.

Refrain.
(She.) You're the prize I played for
that's what men are make for
Now your liberty you resign
You are mine
Bought and paid for.

Cupid's shop entices,
All must pay his prices,
If a bargain you seem to be,
You're sent home C. O. D.