A Little Learnin' Is A Dangerous Thing 1
Frank Sinatra Lyrics


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Hey, Pearl, what's bugging you, girl?
(Too much knowledge, Frank
Too much knowledge) explain it to me
(Well, it was down at school
At the age of six) one of the real quiz kids
(yeah, so did reason and lightning touch)
Usual thought
(As time went on, I studied lots of, oh
The other things) uh huh, like a
(No, most of them didn't hurt much)
Well, I've had other teachers
(Well I got my diploma
I was real real smart)
In a pretty frame, huh?
(Of my knowledge there was no doubt)
That's pretty obvious
(yeah but lately I've had the same
Like in your words too)
(It wasn't even a thought
Let me tell you what I found out now)
Look at the size of my ears, pour it on
(You know it started with a man) uh huh!
(And the man he was grand)
Ain't that the truth
(He had a lie that would make a bird sing)
This kid really came on, I can see that
'Cause you were much too smart to
Be afraid at the start
(Frank, a little learnin' is
A dangerous thing)
Well, I'd like to hear some more
(First he only wanted two) to?
(Then he changed it to few)
Oh, you mean loot
(I even loaned that man my watch and my ring)
Oh, you lost your head, Pearl, completely
'Cause you were hip to the fact that
He would pay you right back
(Yep, a little learning is a dangerous thing)
Uh huh yes, with his sweetheart
His so discreet heart (Oh Frank
He had me doing things that I shouldn't do)
That cad, ain't no denying
So sense in trying (Let me tell you
It is just as bad my
Education's been like some book)
Bet you had an encyclopedia
(Yet now I know the score at last)
So I'm happy for you
(I'm an gal with a past that left my
Head hot and perched in a sling)
You mean you got yourself in hock?
(Yes, it's understood that brother
Gypped me but good)
(A little learning) can be a dangerous thing
Yeah girl that's the kind of stuff
You gotta watch out for




(Oh makes me so nervous)
That's right, it shakes you up

Overall Meaning

The song "A Little Learning Is A Dangerous Thing" by Frank Sinatra and Pearl Bailey is a lighthearted conversation between two friends about the dangers of knowledge. The song is based on the phrase "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," which suggests that partial knowledge can lead to mistakes and faulty judgments. Pearl Bailey opens the song by saying that too much knowledge is bugging her. She explains that she's had too much education, which has made her susceptible to being tricked by people with ulterior motives. She proceeds to tell Frank Sinatra about a man who swindled her out of her watch and ring after she loaned him some money. She admits that she was too trusting because of her education and that she should have known better.


The song's lyrics touch on the idea that education is not always a guarantee of wisdom. In fact, the more we learn, the more we realize how little we know. The song suggests that there is a danger in thinking we know everything. The man who tricked Pearl Bailey was able to do so because she had gained a little bit of knowledge, but not enough to avoid making a mistake. The song encourages us to be humble in our knowledge and not to think that we know everything.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, Pearl, what's bugging you, girl?
Frank is asking Pearl what is bothering her


(Too much knowledge, Frank Too much knowledge) explain it to me
Pearl says that having too much knowledge is the problem and Frank wants her to explain


(Well, it was down at school At the age of six) one of the real quiz kids
Pearl had too much knowledge since she was six years old and was a good student


(yeah, so did reason and lightning touch) Usual thought
Pearl had great reasoning skills and learned things quickly


(As time went on, I studied lots of, oh The other things) uh huh, like a (No, most of them didn't hurt much)
Pearl continued to learn many different things over time. Most of them were not challenging


(Well, I've had other teachers Well I got my diploma I was real real smart) In a pretty frame, huh?
Pearl had other teachers and was very smart, so she got her diploma which was displayed nicely


(Of my knowledge there was no doubt) That's pretty obvious
Pearl was confident in her knowledge and it was apparent


(yeah but lately I've had the same Like in your words too) (It wasn't even a thought Let me tell you what I found out now)
Recently, Pearl has experienced the same thing as Frank. She discovered something important


Look at the size of my ears, pour it on (You know it started with a man) uh huh! (And the man he was grand) Ain't that the truth
Pearl began hearing rumors, and it started with a man that seemed great


(He had a lie that would make a bird sing) This kid really came on, I can see that
The man had a convincing lie that got Pearl's attention


'Cause you were much too smart to Be afraid at the start (Frank, a little learnin' is A dangerous thing)
Frank believes Pearl was too smart to be afraid in the beginning, but she fell for the lie


Well, I'd like to hear some more (First he only wanted two) to? (Then he changed it to few) Oh, you mean loot
Frank wants to hear more. Pearl explains that the man asked for two things, then changed it to a few things. She means that he wanted money


(I even loaned that man my watch and my ring) Oh, you lost your head, Pearl, completely
Pearl loaned the man her valuable items and Frank thinks it was a big mistake


'Cause you were hip to the fact that He would pay you right back (Yep, a little learning is a dangerous thing)
Pearl thought the man would pay her back, but she was wrong. Frank agrees that having a little knowledge can be dangerous


Uh huh yes, with his sweetheart His so discreet heart (Oh Frank He had me doing things that I shouldn't do)
The man had a discreet lover and got Pearl to do things she regrets


That cad, ain't no denying So sense in trying (Let me tell you It is just as bad my Education's been like some book)
Pearl thinks the man is a cheat and there's no point in trying to change it. She also thinks her education was useless like a book


Bet you had an encyclopedia (Yet now I know the score at last) So I'm happy for you
Frank probably had many resources to help him gain knowledge. Pearl is happy that Frank learned something important


(I'm an gal with a past that left my Head hot and perched in a sling) You mean you got yourself in hock?
Pearl has a past that makes her regretful. Frank asks if she got herself into debt


(Yes, it's understood that brother Gypped me but good) (A little learning) can be a dangerous thing
Pearl admits that her brother cheated her. She also agrees that having a little learning can be dangerous


Yeah girl that's the kind of stuff You gotta watch out for (Oh makes me so nervous) That's right, it shakes you up
Frank warns Pearl to watch out for people who cheat her. Pearl is nervous but agrees that it is concerning




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Mike


on The Lady Is A Champ

eight

She gets too hungry for dinner at eight
She can't eat late and stay up all night, because unlike society types, she has to get up in the morning.

She likes the theatre and never comes late
She cares more about seeing the play than being seen making an entrance.

She never bothers with people she'd hate
Her friends are friends, not social trophies.

Doesn't like crap games with barons or earls
While barrns and earls probably don't play craps, she associates with friends, not people to be seen with.

Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
She doesn't "slum", the practice of the rich in the 30's, when the song was written, of touring poor neighborhoods dressed in rich clothes to "tut, tut" about the deplorable conditions, and congratulate each other for "caring about the poor"

Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
Doesn't trade gossip for acceptance among an in-crowd


She likes the free, fresh wind in her hair
She cares more about how her hair feels than conforming with current hair fashions

Hates California, it's cold and it's damp
Since most of California is noticeably warmer and / or drier than New York, where the play the song was written for is set, this is probably a facetious excuse to like what she likes.


And she won't go to Harlem in Lincoln's or Ford's
Another reference to slumming, but facetious, since Lincolns and Fords were middle-class, not luxury brands when the lyric was written

Anonymous


on Try a Little Tenderness

Here are the correct lyrics

Try A Little Tenderness - Frank Sinatra - Lyrics

Oh she may be weary
Women do get wearied
Wearing that same old shabby dress
And when she’s weary
You try a little tenderness

You know she’s waiting
Just anticipating things she’ll may never possess
While she is without them
Try just a little bit of tenderness

It’s not just sentimental
She has her grieve and her care
And the words that soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
You wont regret it
Women don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness

Musical Interlude

And, it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness

Daniel


on The Way You Look Tonight

I met Frank Jr. in Las Vegas, a real gentleman. RIP you both.

Giorgi Khutashvili


on Theme from New York, New York

)))

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