YOU'RE DEVASTATING

(Jerome Kern (m) / Otto Harback (l) )

As sung by Gordon MacRae 1956 < Operetta Favourites >

Also sung by:
Stephen Douglass
Ray Middleton
Howard Keel
Kathryn Grayson
Betty Hutton
Irene Dunne


When I think of who you are
What a gem true blue you are
'Tis then I realize how foolish I have been.
How could I hope to win?
For gems like you are set in rings
That grace the hands of kings.

You're devastating
And so far above me
To think of mating
I never could dare.

You couldn't ever
Be lowly and love me
You're much too clever
To care if I care.

You were destined for purple-hued throne rooms
You were fashioned for princes to see.

Still I keep dreaming
Of you in my own rooms
And there you whisper
"I love you"  to me.

You were destined for purple-hued throne rooms
You were fashioned for princes to see.

Still I keep dreaming
Of you in my own rooms
And there you whisper
"I love you" to me.

NOTES:

The Jerome Kern Broadway production of < Roberta > (1933) 
gave birth to some very famous music. Yesterdays, 
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Touch Of Your Hand, 
Let's Begin and this song to name a few.

The Broadway version of this song was sung by Ray Middleton.

In 1935, RKO Films of the USA produced a film adaptation 
of the Broadway play.

< Roberta > film information:
Director: William A Seiter
Leads: Irene Dunne / Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers / Randolph Scott

This song/lyric eventually appeared in the 1952 MGM musical < Lovely To Look At > 
starring Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel and it too, was an adaptation of the 1933 
Broadway musical  . 


*************
The lyrics varied slightly as below. (with the Carmen Dragon Orchestra)

(Howard Keel spoken)

Paris isn't bricks and steel and mortar
Paris is a beautiful woman
The perfect hostess
She dines you, wines you, entertains you
She sees to it that you meet someone wonderful.

And then after you've fallen in love
She discreetly leaves you alone because she knows that...

(Howard Keel sings)

You're devastating
And so far above me
To think of mating
I never could dare.

You couldn't ever
Be lowly and love me
You're much too clever
To care how I care.

You were destined for purple-hued throne rooms
You were fashioned for princes to see.

Still I keep dreaming
Of you in my own rooms
And there you whisper
"I love you" to me.

(Kathryn Grayson sings)

You're devastating
You're clever, etcetera
Monsieur, you bore me
I'm just not impressed.

To say I love you, forever, etcetera
Are words I flatly refuse to digest.

You Americans call this a fast one
It's the business, the words, of the routine.

And in the matter of choice
You're the last one.
Monsieur, I'm sure that
You see what I mean.




(Transcribed by David Story - February 2014)