A Fine Romance
Johnny Green & His Orchestra Lyrics


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A fine romance with no kisses
A fine romance, my friend, this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes (to-mah-toes, dear)
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed po-tah-toes (potatoes)

A fine romance, you won't nestle
A fine romance, you won't even wrestle
You've never mussed the crease in my blue serge pants
You never take a chance, this is a fine romance

A fine romance, my good fellow
You take romance, I'll take Jello
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion

A fine romance, my dear Duchess
Two old fogies, we really need crutches
You're just as hard to land as the Ile de France! (Fronce)
I haven't got a chonce (chance), this is a fine romance

A fine romance, my good woman
My strong, aged-in-the-wood woman
You never give those orchids I send a glance




They're just like cactus plants, (oh boy)
This is a fine romance!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Green & His Orchestra's song "A Fine Romance" are a witty commentary on a romantic relationship that lacks passion and emotional connection. The singer describes the relationship as a "fine romance" despite the absence of kisses or physical intimacy. The sarcastic tone is clear in lines like "But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed po-tah-toes (potatoes)" which contrasts the image of passion with the mundane reality of the situation. The singer also critiques their partner's lack of willingness to engage in playful or spontaneous behavior, such as nestling or wrestling. The comparison to the seals in the Arctic Ocean is particularly pointed, emphasizing that even animals can demonstrate more emotional expression.


The second half of the song continues the theme of a lackluster relationship, with the singer characterizing their partner as an "old fogey" and "hard to land" (an allusion to a difficult airplane landing on the Ile de France). The mention of "orchids" in the last verse is a reference to a common romantic gesture, but the partner does not reciprocate the gesture, likening the orchids to "cactus plants". Overall, the song humorously critiques a relationship that falls short of the singer's expectations for love and passion.


Line by Line Meaning

A fine romance with no kisses
Our relationship is romantic, but lacks physical intimacy.


A fine romance, my friend, this is
Despite the lack of physical intimacy, our connection is still a good one.


We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes (to-mah-toes, dear)
We should be passionate like a couple in love.


But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed po-tah-toes (potatoes)
But you're distant and uninterested in romance.


A fine romance, you won't nestle
Our relationship lacks physical closeness.


A fine romance, you won't even wrestle
We don't play or flirt with each other.


You've never mussed the crease in my blue serge pants
You've never made a move on me or been physically affectionate.


You never take a chance, this is a fine romance
You're not willing to take any risks in our relationship.


A fine romance, my good fellow
Our relationship is good, but platonic.


You take romance, I'll take Jello
You don't seem interested in romance, and I don't have any other options.


You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
You're incredibly stoic and unwilling to express emotion.


At least they flap their fins to express emotion
The seals express more emotion than you do.


A fine romance, my dear Duchess
Our relationship is formal and reserved.


Two old fogies, we really need crutches
We're both old-fashioned and set in our ways.


You're just as hard to land as the Ile de France! (Fronce)
You're incredibly difficult to win over or impress.


I haven't got a chonce (chance), this is a fine romance
I don't have any hope of us becoming more than friends, but I still enjoy our current relationship.


A fine romance, my good woman
Our relationship is good, but not very romantic.


My strong, aged-in-the-wood woman
You're a mature woman who is set in her ways.


You never give those orchids I send a glance
You don't appreciate my attempts at romance.


They're just like cactus plants, (oh boy)
My romantic gestures are met with indifference and rejection.


This is a fine romance!
Our relationship is good, but not romantically fulfilling.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@modzer627

A fine romance, with no kisses.
A fine romance, my friend this is.
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes.
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes.
A fine romance, you won't Nestle.
A fine romance, you won't wrestle.
You're just as hard to land as the ill de France.
I haven't got a chance, this is a fine romance.
emotions


A fine romance, my good woman.
My strong aged, in the woods woman.
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic ocean.
At least they flap their fins to express emotions.
A fine romance, with no quenches.
A fine romance, with no tension.
You never give the orchids I gave you a glance.
No, you like cactus plants.
This is a fine romance.



All comments from YouTube:

@onlythelonely93

I'm not one of those romantics or anything,but Fred always gets to me <3

@summerrosesutton3073

Too bad that kids of today don't get to see dancers such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and the CLASS they brought to their dancing. Was just wonderful to see both of them together, and also when they each had other dance partners as well.

@bigflop7117

i may not get to see them dance but i can at least listen to the good music that we had before auto-tune ruined it

@googlefan7409

Big Flop you can search up their movies online, they're just something that'll lighten up your life, Believe me .

@erselmcphee9269

I agree. My kids were raised on Fred and Ginger. I just recently introduced them to my greatgrands.

@triplethreat017

I wholly agree. We need class and talent back these days desperately. Fred and Ginger epitomize those words to a T. I'm 25 and only watch and listen to the classics and have been doing so for many years now. Younger people truly do not know what they are missing out on.

@Flooglizer

Nice to hear the Johnny Green band on this Jerome Kern classic, with clever lyrics by the woefully underrated Dorothy Fields...

@faithseidel1512

just love Fred Astaire ❤

@Kosh_Naranek.

what a lovely voice, classic crooner

@modzer627

A fine romance, with no kisses.
A fine romance, my friend this is.
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes.
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes.
A fine romance, you won't Nestle.
A fine romance, you won't wrestle.
You're just as hard to land as the ill de France.
I haven't got a chance, this is a fine romance.
emotions


A fine romance, my good woman.
My strong aged, in the woods woman.
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic ocean.
At least they flap their fins to express emotions.
A fine romance, with no quenches.
A fine romance, with no tension.
You never give the orchids I gave you a glance.
No, you like cactus plants.
This is a fine romance.

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