The Gentleman Is A Dope
Eydie Gormé Lyrics


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The gentleman is a dope,
A man of many faults,
A clumsy Joe
Who wouldn't know
A rumba from a waltz.

The gentleman is a dope
And not my cup of tea;
Why do I get in a dither?
He doesn't belong to me!

The gentleman isn't bright,
He doesn't know the score;
A cake will come,
He'll take a crumb
And never ask for more!

The gentleman's eyes are blue,
But little do they see,
Why am I beatin' my brains out?
He doesn't belong to me!

He's somebody else's problem,
She's welcome to the guy!
She'll never understand him
Half as well as I.

The gentleman is a dope,
He isn't very smart;
He's just a lug
You'd like to hug
And hold against your heart.

The gentleman doesn't know
How happy he could be,
But look at me cryin' my eyes out
As if he belonged to me;
He'll never belong to me!

The gentleman doesn't know
How happy he could be,
But look at me cryin' my eyes out
As if he belonged to me;




He'll never ever,
He'll never belong to me!

Overall Meaning

The song "The Gentleman Is a Dope" by Eydie Gormé is a classic ballad which tells the story of a woman's unrequited love for a man who is not particularly wise or handsome. The lyrics describe the many flaws of the gentleman, from his lack of grace and knowledge of dance to his inability to appreciate all the good things life has to offer. Despite knowing that this man is not right for her, the singer cannot help but feel deeply attached to him.


The lyrics of the song provide a commentary on the often-futile nature of romantic love. Throughout the song, the singer laments the fact that the gentleman is not her "cup of tea" and does not belong to her. Despite her feelings of frustration and disappointment, she continues to hold onto the hope that he might one day realize how happy he could be if he were with her.


One interesting aspect of the song is the way it blends multiple musical styles. The lyrics reference both rumbas and waltzes, and the melody combines elements of classic ballads and jazz. This unique blend of styles helps to create a timeless sound that has endured for decades.


Line by Line Meaning

The gentleman is a dope
The man is foolish and simple-minded


A man of many faults
He has many imperfections and flaws


A clumsy Joe
He's awkward and clumsy


Who wouldn't know a rumba from a waltz
He's uncoordinated and doesn't know how to dance


And not my cup of tea
He's not to my liking or preference


Why do I get in a dither?
Why do I get flustered or anxious around him?


He doesn't belong to me!
He's not mine and I have no claim on him


He doesn't know the score
He doesn't understand the situation or what's going on


A cake will come, He'll take a crumb, And never ask for more!
He will settle for very little and not strive for something better


But little do they see
His blue eyes are not perceptive or insightful


Why am I beatin' my brains out?
Why am I working so hard to figure him out?


He's somebody else's problem, She's welcome to the guy!
He's not my responsibility and someone else can have him


She'll never understand him Half as well as I.
I know him better than anyone else ever will


He isn't very smart
He's not intelligent or clever


He's just a lug You'd like to hug And hold against your heart.
He's just a big, lovable guy who you'd want to hold close


But look at me cryin' my eyes out As if he belonged to me
I'm upset as if he was my own, but he's not


He'll never ever, He'll never belong to me!
He will never be mine and I need to accept that




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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