Cecilia
Johnny Mercer Lyrics


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Little Miss Cecilia Green
Little over sweet sixteen
But the cutest flapper that you've ever seen
When the fellows pass her by
She will always wink her eye
When she talks to them
When she walks with them
This is what they'll cry

Does your mother know you're out Cecilia?
Does she know that I'm about to steal you?
Oh my when I look in your eyes
Something tells me you and I should get together

How bout a little kiss Cecilia
Just a kiss you'll never miss Cecilia
Why do we two keep on wasting time?
Oh Cecilia
Say that you'll be mine

Many funny things occur
While the boys are courting her
I refer to one case in particular
She went with a boy named Joe
Who was always lisping so
When he'd ask this miss
For a little kiss it would sound just like this

Doeth your mother know you're out The-thiel-yuh
Doeth thee know that I'm about to thteal "yuh"
Oh my when I look in your eyth
I feel very you know tho un-neth-the-tha-ry
How about a little kiss The-thiel-yuh
Jutht a kith you'll never mith The-thiel-yuh
Why do we two keep on wathting time?
Oh The-thiel-yuh
Thay that you'll be mine
Mine How about a little kith, the thiel yuh
Jutht a kith you'll never mith, the thiel yuh.




Why do we two keep on wathing time
Oh, the theil yuh

Overall Meaning

The song "Cecilia" by Johnny Mercer is about a young woman named Cecilia Green who is described as a cute flapper who always gets the attention of the guys passing by. The lyrics depict how she winks at the guys and talks and walks with them, making them fall for her. The song has a humorous tone and tells the story of how one particular boy named Joe, who had a lisp, tried to court Cecilia. The lyrics playfully imitate Joe's lisp when he asks Cecilia for a kiss.


The chorus of the song features the boy asking Cecilia if her mother knows she's out and if she knows he's about to steal her. He then urges her to give him a little kiss, saying she'll never miss it, and asks why they keep wasting time. The song ends with the boy asking Cecilia to say that she'll be his, followed by a playful exchange of the pronunciation of her name, emphasizing the lisp once again.


Line by Line Meaning

Little Miss Cecilia Green
A young woman named Cecilia Green


Little over sweet sixteen
Cecilia is slightly older than sixteen years old


But the cutest flapper that you've ever seen
Cecilia is a charming, attractive flapper


When the fellows pass her by
When men notice Cecilia


She will always wink her eye
Cecilia flirts with men by winking at them


When she talks to them
When Cecilia speaks to men


When she walks with them
When Cecilia accompanies men


This is what they'll cry
Men will say the following


Does your mother know you're out Cecilia?
Are you allowed to be out, Cecilia?


Does she know that I'm about to steal you?
Is your mother aware that I am going to take you away?


Oh my when I look in your eyes
When I gaze into your eyes, Cecilia


Something tells me you and I should get together
I feel that we should be together, Cecilia


How bout a little kiss Cecilia
May I kiss you, Cecilia


Just a kiss you'll never miss Cecilia
You won't regret the kiss, Cecilia


Why do we two keep on wasting time?
Why don't we stop delaying?


Oh Cecilia
Cecilia


Say that you'll be mine
Agree to be my girlfriend, Cecilia


Many funny things occur
Amusing events happen


While the boys are courting her
When men are trying to date her


I refer to one case in particular
I am recalling a specific story


She went with a boy named Joe
Cecilia dated a man named Joe


Who was always lisping so
Who had a speech impediment


When he'd ask this miss
When he asked Cecilia


For a little kiss it would sound just like this
Asking for a kiss sounded like this because of his lisp


Doeth your mother know you're out The-thiel-yuh
Is your mother aware that you are out, Cecilia?


Doeth thee know that I'm about to thteal 'yuh'
Do you know that I am going to take you, Cecilia?


Oh my when I look in your eyth
When I gaze into your eyes, Cecilia


I feel very you know tho un-neth-the-tha-ry
I am feeling very uncertain and nervous


Thay that you'll be mine
Say that you will agree to be mine, Cecilia


Mine How about a little kith, the thiel yuh
Mine, can I give you a kiss, Cecilia?


Jutht a kith you'll never mith, the thiel yuh.
Just a kiss that you won't forget, Cecilia.


Why do we two keep on wathing time
Why don't we stop wasting time?


Oh, the theil yuh
Oh, Cecilia




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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