Personality
Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics
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Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
"The madam has the cutest personality"
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
She had a well-developed personality
(What did Romeo see in Juliet?)
(Or Figaro in Figarette?)
(Or Jupiter in Juno?)
You know!
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
(A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well)
(And never sit on the boss's left knee)
(Unless she's got a perfect personality)
(A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair)
(Or even just a bit bowed at the knee)
(If she can show a faultless personality)
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
(That's right!)
(So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
(Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be")
Just tell me how you like my
"Rufff!!
(Personality)
Baby, you've got the cutest
Personality!!
The song "Personality" by Jimmy Van Heusen is a tribute to the importance of personality over physical looks. The lyrics describe historical figures, such as Madam Pompadour and Du Barry, whose charm and confidence made them irresistible to men. It suggests that it is not just about physical appearance, but the way one presents themselves, their intelligence, and how they connect with others.
The song's chorus emphasizes the importance of personality over other factors as the key characteristic for attractiveness. It raises questions about society's standards and expectations of women's beauty and attractiveness. It challenges the idea that looks are the only way to attract a man, and highlights the attention and respect that a woman with a great personality can command. The lyrics suggest that having a charming personality can lead to getting what you want in life, both materially and emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
When Madam Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
Back then, all the gentlemen used to admire Madam Pompadour because of her charming and delightful personality.
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
All the gentlemen were in agreement about Madam Pompadour's captivating personality.
"The madam has the cutest personality"
The gentlemen admired Madam Pompadour's endearing and attractive personality.
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
It's interesting how books talk about Du Barry's physical appearance.
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
What really made Du Barry popular in Paree?
She had a well-developed personality
It was, in fact, Du Barry's magnetic and charming personality that made her famous.
(What did Romeo see in Juliet?)
Just like everyone wonders what Romeo saw in Juliet, people are always curious about what attracts one person to another.
(Or Figaro in Figarette?)
Just like people are curious what drew Figaro to Figarette.
(Or Jupiter in Juno?)
Just like people are curious what drew Jupiter to Juno.
You know!
It's a rhetorical question because the answer is obvious; it's always about the personality.
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
Salome's enigmatic and alluring personality must be the reason why boys were so captivated by her dancing.
No doubt it must have been easy to see
It's not hard to decipher the mystique of Salome's personality.
That she knew how to use her personality
Salome's personality was such that she knew just how to employ it to get what she wanted.
(A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well)
It is possible for a girl to master all the right skills to succeed in life.
(And never sit on the boss's left knee)
It's important for a girl to value herself and never cross lines of propriety.
(Unless she's got a perfect personality)
But even more important is having a befitting personality that never fails to impress.
(A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair)
Even if a girl doesn't have traditionally attractive features, she can still gain success if her personality is charming enough.
(Or even just a bit bowed at the knee)
Even if a girl is physically imperfect or meek, she can still be admired if she is kind and charming.
(If she can show a faultless personality)
If she can demonstrate an impeccable, charming, and captivating personality, she can thrive in life.
Why are certain girls offered certain things
It's interesting to consider why certain girls are chosen for particular things.
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
For instance, why are some girls offered precious things like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
Perhaps it's because they are men of elegance and taste.
(That's right!)
That's definitely a possibility.
(So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart")
When it comes to winning admiration, it's not enough to boast about one's intelligence and kindness.
(Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be")
And the same goes for expressing how good of a sister one can be.
Just tell me how you like my
It's simpler to just ask someone how they feel about one's personality.
"Rufff!!
And in this case it's the singer, who is constantly complimenting his love interest's personality.
(Personality)
Because, ultimately, what matters most is one's personality.
Baby, you've got the cutest
And the singer can't get enough of his love interest's personality.
Personality!!
All he wants to say is, that her personality is everything to him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markherron1407
Congratulations on your 30th milestone and Happy Birthday to Johnny Mercer REST IN POWER Blessings and Hugs 💜💜💜💜
@philipchretienkarlsson8157
Didn't know johnny mercer had also recorded this song. Great recording!
@Trombonology
This gem is one of my favorite Mercer-Pipers-Weston sides! I love Johnny's "Ruff!" in reply to June's "Just tell me how you like my ..."
@petershaw80
Typical bouncy JM number with marvellous support from the Pipers and superbly orchestrated (TD?) accompaniment. A classic of its type.
@severusdel-crag889
God is this one great!
@gyeongjeong9682
When Madame Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
Said all the gentlemen, "Obviously,"
"The madame has the cutest personality."
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paris?
She had a well-developed personality
(What did Romeo see in Juliet?)
(Or Figaro in Figarette?)
(Or Jupiter in Juno?)
You know!
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
(A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well)
(And never sit on the boss' settee)
(Unless she's got a perfect personality)
(A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair)
(Or even just a bit bowed at the knee)
(If she can show a faultless personality)
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
@LordFrancisco1000
When Madame Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
Said all the gentlemen, "Obviously, "
"The madame has the cutest personality."
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paris?
She had a well-developed personality
You know!
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
(That's right!)
(So don'tcha say I'm smart and have the kindest heart
(Or what a wonderful sister I'd be)
Just tell me how you like my
Rufff!
(Personality)
Baby, you've got the cutest
Personality
@ChihuahuaChappie
38 Views for one the Biggest performers of the early 20th Century. Millennials are out of touch.
@user-ru9mm4kq9r
As much as I would love to say some really mean comments about dissing millennials (I am one). I agree with you on this, I personally love this kind of music because my dad and mom were into it and played it all the time. And now that I'm older. I've started listening to music like this, as obviously. Johnny Mercer, or Nat "King" Cole. But it's true that millennials are out of touch listening to all the newer songs. And I will admit some songs might seem very good, but they all are just the same thing, but by a different person. Like every modern day song is always talking about s*x or d**gs and never the happiest thing in life or just simple songs like this that don't drag out. And it's music like this that makes you want to give back when you were younger, and relive those times you took as granted. But back to the point, modern day generations such as the Millennials or Gen Alpha really do listen to honestly depressing music and take music like this as bad because it doesn't fit in with the trends that are going on modern day. Either way, the music is amazing.
Rest in peace; Johnny Mercer.