My Funny Valentine
Braff And Larkins Lyrics


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Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me




Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Braff and Larkins's song "My Funny Valentine" are full of poetic imagery and interesting contrasts. The first verse describes a friend who may not seem like much on the surface - someone with a vacant expression and tousled hair - but who is actually a noble, truthful, and sincere person. The second verse speaks directly to the titular "funny valentine," emphasizing that their looks may not conform to traditional standards of beauty, but that they are still a beloved work of art. The chorus repeats twice, first emphasizing the humor and sweetness of the valentine, and then expressing a desire for them to remain just as they are.


The song as a whole is a celebration of individuality and uniqueness, and a rejection of narrow societal standards for beauty and intelligence. It suggests that true beauty lies in being oneself, flaws and all, and that love and admiration should be based on one's character and inner qualities rather than superficial appearances.


Interestingly, the song has been covered by a wide variety of artists from Frank Sinatra to Chet Baker to Bjork, and its enduring popularity is a testament to its message of acceptance and self-love. Additionally, the song was originally written for and performed in the Broadway musical "Babes in Arms" in 1937, and has since become a standard in the jazz and pop repertoire. "My Funny Valentine" is truly a timeless classic, with lyrics that continue to resonate with audiences all over the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look how confidently our bird friend walks


His virtue doth parade
He shows off his own purity


Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
You don't realize, my silly friend


The picture thou hast made
How silly you appear to others


Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your empty expression and messy hair


Conceal thy good intent
Hides your true good nature


Thou noble upright truthful sincere
But you are still righteous and admirably honest, my friend


And slightly dopey gent, you are
Although you may look a bit foolish


My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You, my darling, are silly and endearing


You make me smile with my heart
You bring joy to my heart


Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Your appearance is humorous and cannot be captured in a picture


Yet, you're my favorite work of art
Yet, to me, you are the most beautiful piece of art


Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your body not ideal like a Greek sculpture?


Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you have a stutter or speak softly?


When you open it to speak
Do your words stumble when you speak?


Are you smart?
Despite these imperfections, are you still intelligent?


But, don't change a hair for me
But there is no need to change for me


Not if you care for me
I love you just the way you are


Stay little valentine, stay
Please stay with me, my darling


Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day is a celebration of our love




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Remember Our Music

How wonderful of you to remember Ellis Larkins. Today, May 15th 2016, is his 93rd birth anniversary. Please check out my youtube channel honoring great African-American musicians like Ellis Larkins¸ Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet, Robert Johnson and James Brown, all born in the month of May.

midnight_womi_nine

finally i can find the original... :)

Richard Smith

Gorgeous music but does anyone know what the picture is?

whatisupdoc

bonjour, hello an other version of "my funny valentine" deejay/tp