I'll Be Hard to Handle
Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers Lyrics

The lyrics of "I'll Be Hard To Handle" are a playful warning to a potential lover from a woman who admits to being difficult to handle. She confidently asserts that she'll be hard to control and that the person she's addressing should leave now if they can't handle it. The reference to "Jane" leaving her partner flat is an allusion to the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" and her devotion to Daddy Warbucks. The woman refers to past behavior that she claims makes her difficult to be in a relationship with - her temper and tendency to throw furniture, as well as lying and being selfish.

While the lyrics might seem flippant and perhaps even a bit cruel, they are delivered with a buoyant and playful melody that epitomizes the era of 1935 when Fred and Ginger's film, "Roberta," was released. The song is a lighthearted reflection of the social changes of the 1930s - women's roles in society were shifting, and there was a new sense of freedom that wasn't previously encouraged. In this context, the lyrics take on an extra layer of meaning, as if the woman is announcing her independence and unwillingness to be controlled by anyone. The playful tone of the song means that even as she lists her character faults, it's hard to feel anything but affection for her - she's simply too charming to dislike.