Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I have an eye for a maid.
I like a pretty girlie,
With each pretty tune that's played.
They go together,
Like sunny weather goes with the month of may.
I've studied girls and music,
So I'm qualified to say
A pretty girl is like a melody
That haunts you night and day,
Just like the strain of a haunting refrain,
She'll start up-on a marathon
And run around your brain.
You can't escape she's in your memory.
By morning night and noon.
She will leave you and then come back again,
A pretty girl is just like a pretty tune.
In Irving Berlin's "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," the singer asserts his expertise in both music and women, claiming that pretty girls and music belong together. The singer notes that just as sunny weather belongs with May, pretty girls naturally go with every pretty tune that is played. The singer goes on to offer a comparison of a pretty girl to a melody, suggesting that a pretty girl can be just as haunting and memorable as a melody that sticks with you long after it is played. The singer believes that a pretty girl can run around your brain just like a haunting refrain, making you unable to escape her presence in your memory.
Line by Line Meaning
I have an ear for music,
I am skilled at discerning different melodies and tunes.
And I have an eye for a maid.
I am also skilled at identifying and appreciating beautiful women.
I like a pretty girlie,
I am attracted to lovely young ladies.
With each pretty tune that's played.
Especially when they are accompanied by pleasing musical accompaniments.
They go together,
These two passions are inexorably linked and complementary.
Like sunny weather goes with the month of may.
Their combination is as natural and predictable as the climate in early summer.
I've studied girls and music,
As an expert in both fields, I can offer an authoritative opinion.
So I'm qualified to say
I am equipped to make a definitive statement about the relationship between the two.
A pretty girl is like a melody
I view an attractive woman as being similar to a haunting, unforgettable piece of music.
That haunts you night and day,
Her image and presence continually occupy your thoughts and emotions.
Just like the strain of a haunting refrain,
Like a familiar, plaintive melody, she lingers in your mind.
She'll start up-on a marathon
Once she enters your thoughts, she will persistently monopolize your mind.
And run around your brain.
Her memory will continue to dance, skip, and whirl through your thoughts.
You can't escape she's in your memory.
No matter how hard you try, she will remain embedded in your recollections.
By morning night and noon.
Her memory will remain vivid in your heart and mind, regardless of the hour.
She will leave you and then come back again,
Her impact on you may lessen, but she will inevitably return to your thoughts.
A pretty girl is just like a pretty tune.
In this way, an attractive woman is analogous to a beautiful piece of music – unforgettable and forever resonant in your consciousness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucas Jackson
I have an ear for mu-sic, and i have an eye for a maid.
I like a pret-ty girl-ie, with each pret-ty tune that's played.
They go to-geth-er, like sun-ny weath-er goes with the month of may.
I've stud-ied girls and mu-sic, so i'm qual-i-fied to say
Chorus
A pret-ty girl is like a mel-o-dy that haunts you night and day,
Just like the strain of a haunt-ing re-frain,
She'll start up-on a mar-a-thon and run a-round your brain.
You can't es- cape she's in your mem-o-ry. by morn-ing night and noon.
She will leave you and then come back a-gain,
A pret-ty girl is just like a pret-ty tune
evenxpez
My grandpa would sing the chorus of this to my grandma when I was little. He passed away last week and I'm glad I found this. Memories once forgotten I can remember again.
Charis Wilson
My condolences
Dan Hutson
My condolences to you & your family. I have always loved this song from the first time I heard it. They don't make songs like this anymore.
Alicia Vance
When I was a little girl, whenever I was dressed up for something my Dad would sing the chorus to this song when I walked into the room <3
mo
My grandma would sing this song to me, the lyrics she sang weren't quite the same but this song means a lot to me
Karen Bennett
Me too! Especially when my sisters and I would come down the steps all dressed up for a special occasion.
Luis Humberto Vega
I love this song since 1974 when it was featured in that 1-derful compilation of MGM's musical numbers titled That's Entertainment ! But hearing John Lennon reprising the main phrase in Get Back was so lovely ! Now I love The Beatles even more (if such a thing is possible) !
Sandy R
Shawty like a melody in my head 😳
D guy03
I've made this same comparison before!
C Leigh
OH NO ETERNAL RETURN