Doin' What Comes Naturally
Irving Berlin Lyrics

Folks are dumb where I come from
Where I come from, people are not highly educated or knowledgeable.

They ain't had any learnin'
They haven't received a formal education or learned much.

Still they're happy as can be
Despite their lack of education, they are content and joyful.

Doin' what comes naturally
Following one's instincts, without needing to be instructed on how to do things properly.

Folks like us could never fuss
People like us, who come from a simple background, could never bother or be overly concerned.

With schools and books and learnin'
We do not need schools, books or formal education in order to get ahead in life.

Still we've gone from A to Z
Yet, we have managed to achieve great things, from the beginning to the end.

You don't have to know how to read or write
Being literate is not necessary in certain situations.

When you're out with a feller in the pale moonlight
For example, when spending time with someone special under the stars.

You don't have to look in a book to find
You don't need to consult any reference material to know.

What he thinks of the moon or what is on his mind
You can gauge his thoughts about the moon and whatever is on his mind through non-verbal cues or conversation.

That comes naturally
These things happen instinctively or automatically.

My uncle out in Texas
My uncle who lives in Texas.

Can't even write his name
He is illiterate and cannot write his own name.

He signs his checks with X's
To sign official documents, he uses the letter 'X' in place of his signature.

But they cash 'em just the same
However, the banks and others honor these checks despite not having a proper signature.

If you saw my pa and ma
If you met my parents.

You'd no they had no learnin'
You would know that they lacked formal education.

Still they raised a family
However, they were still able to provide and raise children.

Uncle Jed has never read
My uncle Jed has not picked up a book before.

An almanac on drinkin'
He has never read any reference material on how to drink properly.

Still he's always on a spree
Nevertheless, he still tends to engage in wild, drunken behavior.

Sister Sal who's mus-i-cal
My sister Sal, who is into music.

Has never had a lesson
Despite the fact that she has never received formal music lessons.

Still she's learned to sing off-key
However, she has still managed to develop a singing voice that is out of tune.

You don't have to go to a private school
It is not necessary to attend an expensive and exclusive school to achieve certain things.

Not to pick up a penny by a stubborn mule
For example, you don't need an elite education to know how to retrieve a dropped coin that a mule has stepped on.

You don't have to have a professor's dome
You don't need to have the knowledge or intellect of a highly educated individual.

Not to go for the honey when the bee's at home
For instance, you don't need instruction on how to gather honey from your own backyard beehive.

My tiny baby brother
My very young brother who is still a child.

Who's never read a book
He has never opened a book before.

Knows one sex from the other
Yet, he already understands the difference between male and female genders.

All he had to do was look
He is able to distinguish between the sexes through visual observation alone.

Grandpa Bill is on the hill
My grandfather Bill is relaxing or spending time up on the hill.

With someone he just married
He is currently enjoying the company of a newlywed companion.

There he is at ninety-three
Despite being 93 years old, he is still able to be active and enjoy life.

Sister Lou ain't got a sou
My sister Lou has no money.

Although she goes out shoppin'
Despite this, she still manages to go shopping for herself.

She gets all her stockings free
She is able to acquire all her stockings without spending a single cent.

Cousin Nell can't add or spell
My cousin Nell struggles with basic arithmetic and spelling.

But she left school with honors
Despite this, she graduated from school with high honors and achievements.

She got every known degree
She obtained all of the degrees and certifications possible without needing to be exceptionally skilled at basic academic areas.

For doin' what comes naturally
Because she is naturally gifted at certain skills that are emphasized in various coursework or training programs.

You don't have to come from a great big town
It doesn't matter if you were raised in a large urban area or not.

Not to clean out a stable in an evening gown
Even if you wear formal evening attire, you can still manage to clean out a dirty stable.

You don't have to mix with the Vanderbilt's
It is not essential to associate with high society or elite groups to achieve success.

Not to take off your panties when you're wearing kilts
For example, it is unnecessary to remove any undergarments when wearing a Scottish kilt.

My mother's cousin Carrie
My cousin Carrie on my mother's side.

Won't ever change her name
She will never make a decision to change the name given to her at birth.

She doesn't want to marry
One reason for this is that she has no desire to get married.

And her children feel the same
Her own children share the same view about not changing their surname or being married.

Sister Rose has lots of beaus
My sister Rose has a lot of admirers and romantic partners.

Although we have no parlor
Even though we do not have a fancy living room to host guests.

She does fine behind a tree
She is able to engage in romantic activities away from the public eye with no problem.