During World War II, he wrote 1942's "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition". Formerly a successful lyricist in collaboration with other composers, this was the first song for which Loesser composed the melody in addition to the lyric.
Loesser was awarded a Grammy Award in 1961 for Best Original Cast Show Album for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
He wrote the following Broadway musicals:
* Where's Charley? (1948) (starring Ray Bolger)
o "Once in Love With Amy"
* Guys and Dolls (1950)
o "A Bushel and a Peck"
o "Fugue for Tinhorns"
o "I'll Know"
o "If I Were A Bell", a favorite of Miles Davis, featured in recordings with John Coltrane
o "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"
* The Most Happy Fella (1956)
o "Standing on the Corner"
o "Big D"
o "Somebody Somewhere"
o "Joey, Joey"
* Greenwillow (1960)
* How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (1961)
o "I Believe In You"
o "The Brotherhood Of Man"
* Pleasures and Palaces (1965)
Some well-known songs he composed for movies and Tin Pan Alley:
* "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Neptune's Daughter (1949). This was originally a song which Loesser and his wife Lynn (born Blankenbaker) performed at parties for the private entertainment of friends. They also recorded the song for Mercury Records. Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to supply a full score for Neptune's Daughter, Loesser included this song which he had created in 1944, originally for their housewarming party.
* "Heart and Soul" (from the Paramount Short Subject A Song is Born) -- lyrics
* "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (from the Paramount Pictures motion picture Sweater Girl)
* "Inch Worm" (from the motion picture Hans Christian Andersen)
* "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China"
* "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" (from the motion picture Christmas Holiday)
* "Thumbelina" (from Hans Christian Andersen)
* "Two Sleepy People" (music by Hoagy Carmichael, 1938)
* "What are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
* "Wonderful Copenhagen" (from Hans Christian Andersen), which is now the official song of the city of Copenhagen.
He was also the author of "The Ballad of Rodger Young".
2006 saw the release of the PBS documentary, Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser.
Marry the Man Today
Frank Loesser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home
You've simply got to gamble
Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I?
You and me!
Why not?
Why not what?
Marry the man today
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow
Marry the man today (Marry the man today)
Maybe he's leaving town (Maybe he's leaving town)
Don't let him get away (Don't let him get away)
Hurry and track him down (Counterattack him and)
Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after
Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean
Readers Digest
Guy Lombardo
Rogers Peet
Golf!
Galoshes!
Ovaltine!
But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
Marry the man today and train him subsequently
Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast
Have a headache
Have a baby
Have two!
Six!
Nine!
STOP!
But marry the man today
Rather than sign and sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways
Change his ways
Change his ways
Tomorrow!
The lyrics of "Marry the Man Today" are a satirical take on traditional gender roles in relationships in the 1950s. The song implies that a woman's best option is to settle for a man who may not be perfect but can be changed over time. The first verse compares the idea of alterations on a dress to the idea of changing a man, suggesting that both require a gamble, as there are no guarantees of success. The second verse compares men to melons, stating that just as you can't squeeze a melon before buying it, you can't change a man until you marry him.
The chorus encourages the listener to "marry the man today" rather than waste time sighing in sorrow. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the urgency of the decision. The lyrics acknowledge that the man may be "trouble" and "crazy and wild and free," probably referring to a man who may not fit traditional expectations of a husband. The final verse suggests that after marriage, a woman can gradually introduce the man to a more domestic and respectable lifestyle, implying that the woman will be taking the role of the instructor.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the sexist and patriarchal expectations of society in the 1950s.
Line by Line Meaning
At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
I learned a lesson at fancy stores; you can't make changes to something you don't own.
A lesson I've been taught
I learned this important lesson.
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
You cannot modify an item that you do not possess.
At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
Even at the most basic markets, it's not acceptable to test produce until after you purchase it.
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home
You shouldn't handle melons until you buy them.
You've simply got to gamble
Life is a game of chance.
You get no guarantee
You won't get any promises.
Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I?
Doesn't this relate to you and me?
You and me!
Us!
Why not?
Why not what?
Why not what?
Why not marry the man today?
Marry the man today
Get married now.
Trouble though he may be
Regardless of his faults.
Much as he likes to play
As much as he enjoys having fun.
Crazy and wild and free
As much as he's wild and uncontrolled.
Rather than sigh in sorrow
Instead of complaining and feeling miserable.
And change his ways tomorrow
You can change him in the future.
Maybe he's leaving town
Perhaps he's going away.
Don't let him get away
Don't allow him to leave without making him yours.
Hurry and track him down
Quickly pursue him.
Counterattack him and
React and move fast.
Give him the girlish laughter
Make him laugh like a girl.
Give him your hand today
Marry him now.
And save the fist for after
If you have a fight, hold off on hitting him for later.
Slowly introduce him to the better things
Gradually introduce him to a higher class of living.
Respectable, conservative, and clean
Proper, traditional, and hygienic.
Readers Digest
A popular magazine
Guy Lombardo
An orchestra leader.
Rogers Peet
A well-respected men's clothing store.
Golf!
An upscale sport.
Galoshes!
Waterproof footwear.
Ovaltine!
A highly nutritious beverage.
Handle it meek and gently
Be delicate when dealing with him.
And train him subsequently
Shape him into a new man later.
Carefully expose him to domestic life
Introduce him to the ways of a good home.
And if he ever tries to stray from you
If he tries to cheat on you.
Have a pot roast
Cook him a good dinner.
Have a headache
Experience a headache to avoid intimacy.
Have a baby
Get pregnant.
Have two! Six! Nine! STOP!
Keep having kids until you have enough.
Change his ways
Modify his behavior to your liking.
Tomorrow!
Do it in the future.
Contributed by Bella W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bellaarnold7232
(A=Adelaide, S=Sarah, B=Both)
A: What are we crazy or something?
A: At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
S: At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home.
A: You've simply got to gamble
S: You get no guarantee
A: Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I
S: You and me.
A: (whatever)
A: Why not?
S: Why not what?
A: Marry the man today.
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
B: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
A: Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow.
S: Marry the man today.
A: (Marry the man today)
S: Maybe he's leaving town
A: (Maybe he's leaving town)
S: Don't let him get away
A: (Don't let him get away)
S: Hurry and track him down
A: (Counterattack him and)
B: Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
S: Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after.
A: Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean
S: Readers Digest
A: Guy Lombardo
S: Rogers Peet
A: Golf!
S: Galoshes
A: Ovaltine!
B: But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
A: Marry the man today and train him subsequently
S: Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast.
A: Have a headache
S: Have a baby
A: Have two!
S: Six
A: Nine!
S: STOP!
B: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways
A: (And change his ways)
S: And change his ways
A: (And change his ways)
[Higher:]
S: And change his ways...
B: Tomorrow!
@aleecesirounita
Adelaide: (sitting down) What are we crazy or something?
Adelaide: (stand up) At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
Sarah: (Sydney stands)At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home.
Adelaide: You've simply got to gamble
Sarah: You get no guarantee
Adelaide: Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I
Sarah: You and me.
Adelaide: (spoken) Whatever (sung) Why not?
Sarah: Why not what?
A: Marry the man today.
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
Both: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
A:Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow.
S:Marry the man today.
A: Marry the man today
S: Maybe he’s leaving town A: Maybe he’s leaving town
S: Don't let him get away A: Don’t let him get away
S: Hurry and track him down
A: Counterattack him and
B: Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
S: Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after. (Shaky fist)
A: Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean (Aleece walks. Sydney follows)
S: Readers Digest (Sydney walks around chair
A: Guy Lombardo
S: Rogers Peet
A: Golf!
S: Galoshes
A: Ovaltine!
B: But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
A: Marry the man today and train him S: subsequently!
S: Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast.
A: Have a headache
S: Have a baby
A: have two!
S: Six
A:Nine!
S: STOP!
B: But Marry the Man today
Rather than sign and sorrow
Marry the man today
S: And change his ways -A: change his ways - S: and change his ways A: and change his ways B: And change his ways
B: Tomorrow!
@aleecesirounita
Adelaide: At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
Sarah: At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home.
Adelaide: You've simply got to gamble
Sarah: You get no guarantee
Adelaide: Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I
Sarah: You and me.
Adelaide: Why not?
Sarah: Why not what?
A: Marry the man today.
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
Both: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
A:Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow.
S:Marry the man today.
A: Marry the man today
S: Maybe he’s leaving town A: Maybe he’s leaving town
S: Don't let him get away A: Don’t let him get away
S: Hurry and track him down
A: Counterattack him and
B: Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
S: Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after.
A: Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean
S: Readers Digest
A: Guy Lombardo
S: Rogers Peet
A: Golf!
S: Galoshes
A: Ovaltine!
B: But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
A: Marry the man today and train him subsequently
S: Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast.
A: Have a headache
S: Have a baby
A: have two!
S: Six
A:Nine!
S: STOP!
B: But Marry the Man today
Rather than sign and sorrow
Marry the man today
S: And change his ways -A: change his ways - S: and change his ways A: and change his ways
B: Tomorrow!
@gabellacrystal
A: What are we crazy or something?
A: At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
S: At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home.
A: You've simply got to gamble
S: You get no guarantee
A: Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I
S: You and me.
A: (whatever)
A: Why not?
S: Why not what?
A: Marry the man today.
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
B: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
A: Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow.
S: Marry the man today.
A: (Marry the man today)
S: Maybe he's leaving town
A: (Maybe he's leaving town)
S: Don't let him get away
A: (Don't let him get away)
S: Hurry and track him down
A: (Counterattack him and)
B: Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
S: Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after.
A: Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean
S: Readers Digest
A: Guy Lombardo
S: Rogers Peet
A: Golf!
S: Galoshes
A: Ovaltine!
B: But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
A: Marry the man today and train him subsequently
S: Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast.
A: Have a headache
S: Have a baby
A: Have two!
S: Six
A: Nine!
S: STOP!
B: Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways
A: (And change his ways)
S: And change his ways
A: (And change his ways)
[Higher:]
S: And change his ways...
B: Tomorrow!
source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/g/guysanddollslyrics/marrythemantodaylyrics.html
@rachelshelley68
At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's
A lesson I've been taught
You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought
At any vegetable market from Borneo to Nome
You mustn't squeeze a melon till you get the melon home.
You've simply got to gamble
You get no guarantee
Now doesn't that kind of apply to you and I
You and me.
Why not?
Why not what?
Marry the man today.
Trouble though he may be
Much as he likes to play
Crazy and wild and free
Marry the man today
Rather than sigh in sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways tomorrow.
Marry the man today.
Marry the man today
Maybe he's leaving town
Don't let him get away
Hurry and track him down
Counterattack him and
Marry the man today
Give him the girlish laughter
Give him your hand today
And save the fist for after.
Slowly introduce him to the better things
Respectable, conservative, and clean
Readers Digest
Guy Lombardo
Rogers Peet
Golf!
Galoshes
Ovaltine!
But marry the man today
Handle it meek and gently
Marry the man today and train him subsequently
Carefully expose him to domestic life
And if he ever tries to stray from you
Have a pot roast.
Have a headache
Have a baby
Have two!
Six
Nine!
STOP!
But Marry the Man today
Rather than sign and sorrow
Marry the man today
And change his ways - change his ways - his ways
Tomorrow!
@jamesabrams6908
I saw this show last night in Pittsburgh for the many-th time. I liked this a lot. "Handle him meek and gently and train him subsequently" is a great rhyme I never heard before. Brilliant stuff in this show.
@amazingspiderlad
This is probably one of my favourite duets from any musical
@theptb13
I got a divorce law ad before this video.
@ElyseKessler
BAHAHA
@sewerzen
💀💀💀💀💀
@Mrs.Nickel-Trombone
IM SOBBING ON THE FLOOR💀💀💀
@katedunne1040
i just got sarah at my high school and i am SO DAMN EXCITED FOR THIS SONG
@jacksonmorton4915
OH MY GOSH HOW DID IT GO?!
@freakyfrappuccino
LOL. "You and I!" ... "You and me!" ... "Whateva."
@alisonmorgan7238
What a different attitude the country had towards women who were in their 20's and not yet married. "Old maids". My mama still refers to her mama as being an "old maid" when she finally married in her mid 20's!