What I'm Longing to Say

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What I'm Longing to Say (1917)
Jerome Kern (music) and P. G. Wodehouse (lyrics)

Song from the musical Leave It to Jane.

594507What I'm Longing to Say1917Jerome Kern (music) and P. G. Wodehouse (lyrics)
Sheet music cover

[Verse]

(Jane.) Why can't you find
Words to make clear all that's lying behind,
Back in your mind?
(Billy.) I do not know
Why it is so.
I must seem awfully stupid and slow.

[Refrain]

Somehow, whenever I'm with you
I never Can say what I'm longing to say.
When it's too late, and your are not near me,
I can find words, but you're not there to hear me.
That's why,
When we're together,
I just talk of the weather,
Simply because,
When I'm with you,
I never Can say what I'm longing to say.

[Verse]

(Billy.) There's not a doubt,
I've lots of eloquence somewhere about!
Can't get it out.
(Jane.) If that is so,
I will soon show
It's just a question of trying, you know.

[Refrain]

Though I'm not clever, I can think of ever
So many nice things you could say.
Couldn't you pay me compliments charming?
Why be afraid? I am not so alarming.
So try, please,
Don't be downhearted,
It's not hard, once you have started.
Look in my eyes!
Make you mind up and try,
And I'm sure you'll find plenty to say.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1975, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 48 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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