My Funny Valentine
Elvis Costello Lyrics
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You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
But 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?
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is valentine's day
The song "My Funny Valentine" by Elvis Costello is a beautiful love song that expresses how the persona's funny, sweet, and quirky Valentine has captured his heart more than any other beautiful woman could ever do. The song's first lines, "My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine, you make me smile with my heart," express how this person brings him joy from within, and his looks and flaws do not matter at all. The line "Your looks are laughable, unphotographable, but you're my favorite work of art" shows how the persona admires his Valentine's uniqueness, individuality, and beauty that cannot be compared to anything else, even in photographs.
The next lines "Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak, are you smart?" show that the persona does not care about the typical beauty standards or social norms that define what beauty should look like. Instead, he values his Valentine's intellectual prowess and personality as much as he values her physical appearance. Lastly, the line "Don't change a hair for me, not if you care for me" shows how much the persona loves his Valentine for who she truly is and does not want her to change herself to try to fit someone else's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You, my peculiar and humorous love, are a source of delight and amusement to me.
You make me smile with my heart
Your actions and words bring me deep joy and happiness from the bottom of my heart.
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
Physically, you may not be deemed attractive by traditional standards, but your uniqueness and individuality make you incomparable and impossible to capture in a picture.
But you're my favorite work of art
To me, you are the most beautiful and interesting thing in the world, like a cherished work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your body not the idealized and perfect figure of ancient Greek art?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you maybe not have the strongest voice or speech?
When you open it to speak
When you speak, despite any perceived weaknesses, I listen intently.
Are you smart?
Do you possess intelligence and wit?
Don't change a hair for me
I love you as you are, without any need for change or improvement.
Not if you care for me
If you truly love and value me, please don't alter yourself to please me.
Stay little valentine, stay
Keep being my beloved, dear valentine always.
Each day is valentine's day
Every day should be filled with love and appreciation for one another, just like on Valentine's Day.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaulCassidyOrchestrations
This is what Elvis does best....music stripped down to the bare bones and lets his haunting voice carry the whole thing along. Fabulous
@irenedavo3768
Hello
@PaulCassidyOrchestrations
@Irene Davo Why are you saying hello to everybody? 🤣
@betsylalich4570
@Paul Cassidy Orchestrations elvis excited her
@austinthyme2296
Love this version...great song and well done by a modern performer.
@kpmccauley1
To say EC owned this song is an understatement. His powerful voice wraps around it like a warm embrace as the simple guitar work and pacing pulls you into the desperate plea of the song till you forget any other attempt to interpret its most beautiful message.
@longarinij
Sounds like an homage to Chet Baker to me. Great performance.
@irenedavo3768
Hello
@betsylalich4570
Someone is still saying hello.
Yes, Elvis is perfect here, as is Chet on his horn.
If I must only think of so many others who have loved and sang this song, often so uniquely, the first would be "Ol' Blue Eyes", Frank Sinatra.
Yet the composer/creator of such great songs must not be forgotten. If lucky enough one may still find an old LP or even CD, that lists the musicians and writers, the magic comes forth in a beautiful unison.
@RaineCarosin
Such a beautiful rendition of such a stunning classical piece... again, encore!