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.
I'd Love to Be Shot From a Cannon With You
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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I′m tired of doing the same things over and over again
You must admit that it's a bore
I keep longing for a change
Something different, something strange
That we have never done before
[Refrain:]
Now that's something diff'rent that I′d like to do
We′d float through the air in a way that
I never could forget the day that
I was shot from a cannon with you
I'd love to be caught in a mousetrap with you
We′re hungry and so there is one thing to do
We'd soon hear a couple of mouses
Yell out, "They ate our cheese, the louses!"
When I′m caught in a mousetrap with you
I'd love to escape a hotel room with you
We′d open the window and quickly jump through
And just when we get to the bottom
The cameraman says, "Cut! I got 'em!"
When I'm in a hotel room with you
In Irving Berlin's "I'd Love to Be Shot From a Cannon With You," the singer expresses their fatigue with doing the same monotonous things repeatedly with their partner. They yearn for a change, an adventure, something bizarre and unique that they have never done before. The refrain suggests ridiculous scenarios: being shot from a cannon, getting caught in a mousetrap, escaping a hotel room, all with a lover. The singer yearns for a wild and outrageous experience with their partner, which would be memorable, thrilling, and fun.
The song is a playful expression of love, with whimsical imagery and absurd situations. In a way, the refrain is a metaphor for the spontaneity, unpredictability, and excitement that the singer desires in their relationship. The original Broadway production of the musical, "As Thousands Cheer," in which the song was featured, was notable for its topical satire and social commentary, a type of musical theater that was novel at the time. "I'd Love to Be Shot From a Cannon With You" was one of the lighter, comedic numbers in the show, a moment of levity amid the political commentary.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m tired of doing the same things over and over again
I'm bored with the monotony of our routine.
You must admit that it's a bore
You can't deny that it's tedious.
I keep longing for a change
I crave something new.
Something different, something strange
Something out of the ordinary, something peculiar.
That we have never done before
That is completely new and unfamiliar to us.
I'd love to be shot from a cannon with you
I want to experience something exhilarating and thrilling with you.
Now that's something diff'rent that I'd like to do
That would be a refreshing change of pace.
We'd float through the air in a way that
We would soar through the sky in a unique manner.
I never could forget the day that
That would be a memorable experience for me.
I was shot from a cannon with you
That is an adventure I want to share with you.
I'd love to be caught in a mousetrap with you
I want to get into a sticky situation with you.
We're hungry and so there is one thing to do
We only have one option because we're famished.
We'd soon hear a couple of mouses
We would quickly attract the attention of a pair of mice.
Yell out, "They ate our cheese, the louses!"
The mice would express their displeasure at our thievery.
When I'm caught in a mousetrap with you
I want to go through a difficult situation with you by my side.
I'd love to escape a hotel room with you
I want to break free from our confinement with you.
We'd open the window and quickly jump through
We would make a daring getaway by leaping out of the window.
And just when we get to the bottom
Just as we reach the ground level.
The cameraman says, "Cut! I got 'em!"
Our escape would be caught on film for others to see.
When I'm in a hotel room with you
I want to share thrilling experiences with you, even in mundane situations like being stuck in a hotel room.
Writer(s): Irving Berlin
Contributed by Christian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.