Medley
Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby Lyrics


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At words poetic, I'm so pathetic
That I always have found it best,
Instead of getting 'em off my chest,
To let 'em rest unexpressed.
I hate parading my serenading
As I'll probably miss a bar,
But if this ditty is not so pretty,
At least it'll tell you how great you are.

You're the top! You're the Colosseum,
You're the top! You're the Louvre Museum,
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss,
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeart sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile, You're the Tow'r of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa.
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

Your words poetic are not pathetic
On the other hand, boy, you shine
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine down my spine.
Now gifted humans like Vincent Youmans
Might think that your song is bad,
But for a person who's just rehearsin'
Well I gotta say this my lad:

You're the top! You're Mahatma Ghandi.
You're the top! You're Napolean brandy.
You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain,
You're the National Gall'ry, You're Garbo's sal'ry,
You're cellophane.
You're sublime, You're a turkey dinner.
You're the time of the Derby winner.
I'm a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop.
But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

You're the top! You're a Ritz hot toddy.
You're the top! You're a Brewster body.
You're the boats that glide on the sleepy Zuider Zee,
You're a Nathan Panning, You're Bishop Manning,
You're broccoli.
You're a prize, You're a night at Coney,
You're the eyes of Irene Bordoni,
I'm a broken doll, a fol-de-rol, a blop,
But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top.

You're the top! You're an Arrow collar.
You're the top! You're a Coolidge dollar.
You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire,
You're an O'Neill drama, You're Whistler's mama,
You're Camembert.
You're a rose, You're Inferno's Dante,
You're the nost of the great Durante.
I'm just in the way, as the French would say
"De trop,"
But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top.

You're the top! You're a Waldorf salad.
You're the top! You're a Berlin ballad.
You're a baby grand of a lady and a gent.
You're an old dutch master, You're Mrs. Aster,
You're Pepsodent.
You're romance, You're the steppes of Russia,
You're the pants on a Roxy usher.
I'm a lazy lout that's just about to stop,
But if Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

You're the top! You're a dance in Bali.
You're the top! You're a hot tamale.
You're an angel, you simply too, too, too divine,
You're a Botticelli, You're Keats, You're Shelley,
You're Ovaltine.
You're a boon, You're the dam at Boulder,
You're the moon over Mae West's shoulder.
I'm a nominee of the G.O.P. or GOP,
But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

You're the top! You're the Tower of Babel.
You're the top! You're the Whitney Stable.
By the River Rhine, You're a sturdy stein of beer,
You're a dress from Saks's, You're next year's taxes,'
You're stratosphere.
You're my thoist, You're a Drumstick Lipstick,
You're the foist in the Irish svipstick,
I'm a frightened frog that can find no log to hop,




But if, Baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

Overall Meaning

The "Medley" is a playful back and forth duet between Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland that exaggerates their love and affection for each other. Judy starts by complimenting Frank's poetic device and expressing her admiration for him. She admits that she feels electrified after each line he sings, despite how ridiculous the lyrics might be. Frank responds by calling her "the top" and listing an endless variety of superlatives that she represents. He compares her to towering monuments, art, and even Mickey Mouse. Together they sing, at times in harmony and at times in a sweet competition, to see who can outdo the other in praise. The lyrics might seem overly contrived, but the duo's chemistry and humor make it fun.


Line by Line Meaning

At words poetic, I'm so pathetic
I am terrible at expressing myself in a poetic way.


That I always have found it best, Instead of getting 'em off my chest, To let 'em rest unexpressed.
I find it easier to keep my feelings to myself instead of sharing them.


To let 'em rest unexpressed.
To not outwardly express my feelings.


I hate parading my serenading As I'll probably miss a bar, But if this ditty is not so pretty, At least it'll tell you how great you are.
I don't like to show off my singing because I might make a mistake, but at least this song can tell you how amazing you are.


You're the top! You're the Colosseum, You're the top! You're the Louvre Museum, You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss, You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeart sonnet, You're Mickey Mouse.
You are the greatest! You are a magnificent structure like the Colosseum or Louvre, beautiful music like Strauss or a wonderful poem like Shakespeare, and even the beloved Mickey Mouse.


You're the Nile, You're the Tow'r of Pisa, You're the smile on the Mona Lisa.
You are like the Nile River, the Tower of Pisa, or the beautiful smile of the Mona Lisa. All wonderful and breathtaking things.


But if, Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
Even though I might not be as great or famous as you, you are still the very best.


Your words poetic are not pathetic On the other hand, boy, you shine And I can feel after every line A thrill divine down my spine.
Your poetry is not horrible; in fact, you shine with every line you say. It makes me feel an incredible thrill down my spine.


Now gifted humans like Vincent Youmans Might think that your song is bad, But for a person who's just rehearsin' Well I gotta say this my lad:
Gifted people like Vincent Youmans might not like your song, but for someone who's just rehearsing, I have to say that you are doing a great job.


You're the top! You're Mahatma Ghandi. You're the top! You're Napolean brandy. You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain, You're the National Gall'ry, You're Garbo's sal'ry, You're cellophane.
You are the absolute best! You are like Mahatma Gandhi, Napolean brandy, a beautiful summer night in Spain, the National Gallery, the great Garbo's salary, and even something as simple as cellophane.


You're sublime, You're a turkey dinner. You're the time of the Derby winner.
You are sublime and perfect, just like a delicious turkey dinner, or the moment when a Derby winner is crowned.


But if, Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
Even if I am not as great or famous as you, you are still the very best.


You're the top! You're an Arrow collar. You're the top! You're a Coolidge dollar. You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire, You're an O'Neill drama, You're Whistler's mama, You're Camembert.
You are the best! You are the stylish Arrow collar, the valuable Coolidge dollar, the graceful Fred Astaire, the amazing O'Neill drama, the famous Whistler's mother painting, and even something as simple as Camembert cheese.


You're a rose, You're Inferno's Dante, You're the nost of the great Durante.
You are like a beautiful rose, the famous Dante from Inferno, and the great Durante.


I'm just in the way, as the French would say 'De trop,' But if, Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
I'm no competition for you, as the French would say 'De trop', but even if I am not as great as you, you are still the very best.


You're the top! You're a Waldorf salad. You're the top! You're a Berlin ballad. You're a baby grand of a lady and a gent. You're an old dutch master, You're Mrs. Aster, You're Pepsodent.
You are amazing! You are a delicious Waldorf salad, a lovely Berlin ballad, a beautiful baby grand piano, a famous Dutch master painting, Mrs. Aster, and even Pepsodent toothpaste.


You're romance, You're the steppes of Russia, You're the pants on a Roxy usher.
You are full of romance, like the beautiful steppes of Russia, or even as simple as the pants on a Roxy usher.


But if Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
Even if I am not as great or famous as you, you are still the very best.


You're the top! You're a dance in Bali. You're the top! You're a hot tamale. You're an angel, you simply too, too, too divine, You're a Botticelli, You're Keats, You're Shelley, You're Ovaltine.
You are sensational! You are a fantastic dance in Bali, a spicy hot tamale, an angel that is so divine, even more, divine than the beauty of Botticelli or the classic poets Keats and Shelley, and just as sweet as Ovaltine.


You're a boon, You're the dam at Boulder, You're the moon over Mae West's shoulder.
You are amazing! You are a gift, like the Boulder dam, or as beautiful as the moon over Mae West's shoulder.


I'm a nominee of the G.O.P. or GOP, But if, Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
I might just be a nominee of the GOP, but even if I am not as great or famous as you, you are still the very best.


You're the top! You're the Tower of Babel. You're the top! You're the Whitney Stable. By the River Rhine, You're a sturdy stein of beer, You're a dress from Saks's, You're next year's taxes, You're stratosphere.
You are incredible! You are like the Tower of Babel or the famous Whitney Stable. You are a durable stein of beer by the River Rhine, a beautiful dress from Saks's, and even next year's taxes. You are just like the stratosphere, out of this world!


You're my thoist, You're a Drumstick Lipstick, You're the foist in the Irish svipstick.
You are mine and the very best! You are the perfect match, like a Drumstick Lipstick, and the first one in an Irish svipstick.


I'm a frightened frog that can find no log to hop, But if, Baby, I'm the bottom, You're the top!
I might be like a frightened frog, unable to find a safe spot to jump, but even if I am not as great or famous as you, you are still the very best.




Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Bud Lehn

This is the best teaming of Frank and Bing I've heard. They sing so beautifully and they admired each other so much and it shows.

clue104

2 of the biggest stars of the early 20th century collaborating in this medley? It's heaven! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ’ฏ

John Kimmerle

What a great medley. Thank you David Lehman.(Sinatra Century)

shane brooks

they sound beautiful together

Marcos Callau

Brilliant!

Richard Cook

@sprinter848 I'll keep an eye out and check my collection (If I have it anywhere it'll be on the ABC TV show discs I have). As for Riddle, though the sound and timing fit, I can't help but shake a feeling Bing's usual arranger for the show and with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra. (Research pulled me up an orchestra and fixed dates but no arranger, Bing seems to be lacking that detail, which points me to being someone from the band.)

Richard Cook

@sprinter848 I know what one your on about. A YouTube search gave me "The Edsel Show", featuring Bing, Frank, Rosemary Clooney and Louis Armstrong (and special guest Bob Hope). The show was broadcast live on October 13 1957 on CBS to promote Ford's Edsel. You can download the full show from the internet archive for free legally (archive.org - sorry hyperlinks don't work here) I'd highly recommend it, I haven't watched in a while but remember it being a great show.

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