Star of many Paramount musicals. Starred in The Greatest Show on Earth, Annie Get Your Gun and Miracle of Morgans Creek. Her singing career was on the up when unfortunately the RIAA put a stop to all recordings in the early forties. She had just had a number one with "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" so this was bad timing for her. Stormed out of her Paramount contract over personal issues in the early 50's and with bad TV choices (Satin and Spurs getting awful reviews) decided to stick to live performing.
Lost her singing voice in the 70's as her private life was in turmoil. Turned to Catholicism after beating alcohol addiction. Returned to Broadway in 1980 as a replacement Miss Hannigan in Annie. Earned a master's degree in psychology from Salve Regina University, where she became friends with Kristin Hersh. Passed away in 2007.
Doctor Lawyer Indian Chief
Betty Hutton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a lawyer and an indian, too
And neither doctor, lawyer nor Indian chief
Could love you any more than I do
There's a barrel of fish in the ocean
There's a lot of little birds in the blue
"And 'neither fish nor fowl" says the wise old owl
No! No! No! It couldn't be true
That anyone else could love you like I do
I'm gonna warn all the dead-eyed dicks
That you're the chick with the slickest tricks
And every tick of my ticker ticks for you, follow through
Tell the doc to stick to his practice
Tell the lawyer to settle his case
Send the Indian chief and his tommy-hawk
Back to little rain-in-the-face
'Cause you know! Know! Know! It couldn't be true
That anyone else could love you like I do
(No! No! No! It couldn't be true)
(That anyone else could love you like I do)
And, confidentially, I confess
I sent a note to the local press
That I'll be changin' my home address for you, follow through
Tell the doc to stick to his practice
Tell the lawyer to settle his case
Send the Indian chief and his tommy-hawk
Back to little rain-in-the-face
'Cause you know! Know! Know! It couldn't be true
That anyone else could love you like I do
No! No! No! It couldn't be true
That anyone else could love you like I do
I'm gonna send a hot time, unique
To warn the boys down at Cripple Creek
That every dimple on your dimpled cheek is mine, so to speak
Tell the (doc!) To stick to his practice
Tell the (lawyer!) To settle his case
Send the (Indian chief!) And his tommy-hawk
Back to little rain-in-the-face (woo-woo-woo, woo-woo-woo)
'Cause you know! Know! Know! It couldn't be true
That anyone else could love you like I do
(Like I do)
(Like I do)
(Like I do)
Like I do
The song Doctor Lawyer Indian Chief by Betty Hutton is a playful and whimsical declaration of love sung by the singer to her object of affection. The lyrics highlight the singer’s conviction that no one else in the world could love her beloved as much as she does. The song begins by painting a whimsical picture of the different people living in the town--a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian. However, the singer boldly asserts that none of them could love her beloved as she does. The lyrics use the proverbial example of the fish in the ocean and birds in the sky, and the wise old owl’s saying “neither fish nor fowl,” to convey the singer’s firm belief in her unique love for the person she is addressing.
In the latter part of the song, the singer takes a more aggressive and possessive tone, warning off any suitors who might try to win her beloved's heart. She warns the "dead-eyed dicks" in town about her beloved's wiles, and sends a “hot time, unique” to the boys down at Cripple Creek to claim her beloved as her own. The humorous song ends with the singer telling the doctor, lawyer, and Indian to stick to their roles, as she refuses to let them come in between her and her beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a doctor livin' in your town
There is a medical professional residing in your place of residence
There's a lawyer and an indian, too
In addition, there are also individuals who practice law and indigenous persons present
And neither doctor, lawyer nor Indian chief Could love you any more than I do
However, despite their presence, their love for you cannot compare to the depth of my affection
There's a barrel of fish in the ocean
There exists a large supply of fish in the great bodies of water
There's a lot of little birds in the blue
Furthermore, there is a profuse quantity of small avian creatures residing in the sky
"And 'neither fish nor fowl" says the wise old owl Could love you any more than I do
As expressed by the sagacious owl, no creature, regardless of their species, is capable of surpassing my love for you
No! No! No! It couldn't be true That anyone else could love you like I do
This is not plausible, as my affection for you is unrivaled
I'm gonna warn all the dead-eyed dicks That you're the chick with the slickest tricks And every tick of my ticker ticks for you, follow through
I shall alert all hedonistic men that you are a woman with a vast amount of cunning and sly ways, and my heart beats for you entirely
Tell the doc to stick to his practice Tell the lawyer to settle his case Send the Indian chief and his tommy-hawk Back to little rain-in-the-face
Instruct the doctor to remain focused on medical work, the lawyer to resolve any pending legal matters, and the indigenous chief and his weapon to return to their own territory
'Cause you know! Know! Know! It couldn't be true That anyone else could love you like I do
This holds true, as nobody could love you as deeply and wholly as I do
(No! No! No! It couldn't be true) (That anyone else could love you like I do) And, confidentially, I confess I sent a note to the local press That I'll be changin' my home address for you, follow through
In strict confidence, I reveal I notified the local newspaper that I will be changing my place of residence - all for the sake of being closer to you
I'm gonna send a hot time, unique To warn the boys down at Cripple Creek That every dimple on your dimpled cheek is mine, so to speak
I'll dispatch a distinctive and memorable warning to the men down at Cripple Creek that every curve and contour of your face rightfully belongs to me
Tell the (doc!) To stick to his practice Tell the (lawyer!) To settle his case Send the (Indian chief!) And his tommy-hawk Back to little rain-in-the-face (woo-woo-woo, woo-woo-woo)
Once more, urge the physician, attorney, and indigenous chief to carry on with their respective tasks and responsibilities
('Cause you know! Know! Know! It couldn't be true) (That anyone else could love you like I do) (Like I do) (Like I do) (Like I do)
(As you already know, nobody can love you the way I do) (The way I do) (The way I do) (The way I do)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O CAPASSO, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidtodora6173
A really amazing and wonderful, witty song with - Quartet Singer’s - and really beautiful orchestrations.
@geraldthorburn1123
Wonderful! From the days when singers could sing, not ululate, and when lyrics were witty and inventive, not a hook repeated ad nauseam . Super quality too, Prof. Many thanks for posting.
@scotnick59
the clarity and great sound of this one is great & of course Betty gives her "all" as usual
@chasmarkcooke
The best of Betty Hutton!
@thedealer777
According to my old man, my uncle Al had a thing for Betty Hutton in WWII. Sadly, he was killed outside Paris in Aug, '44.
@knapples5526
May him and our nations bravest and greatest generation Rest in peace.
@willie714
Ever since I saw Hoagy in in to Have and Have Not , I have been a student of his music.
@chasmarkcooke
Betty is best!
@coolbeans7349
got this at a thrift store for a whopping 25 cents i am thrilled!!!! its a beautiful vinyl!!!
@stevenwebb7936
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