Neil Sedaka (born 13 March 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop s… Read Full Bio ↴Neil Sedaka (born 13 March 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter often associated with the Brill Building era of songwriting. He teamed up with Howard Greenfield to write many major hit songs for himself and others.

Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".

The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.

Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.

My Funny Valentine
Neil Sedaka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me

Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Overall Meaning

The song My Funny Valentine by Neil Sedaka is a rendition of a classic jazz tune written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The song is an ode to a lover who may not fit the conventional standards of beauty but has a unique and endearing charm. The opening verse talks about a bird who walks with pride, and Sedaka sings to his lover, calling him a slightly dopey gent. The lyrics talk about the lover's looks being un-photographable and laughable, but at the same time, he is still a favorite work of art. This is a great example of how beauty is subjective and that love goes beyond physical appearances.

The second verse presents a series of questions to the lover, asking if their figure is less than Greek, if their mouth is a little weak and if they're smart. These questions seem like they're questioning the lover's worth, but Sedaka twists it by saying that they need not change a hair for him, and each day will still be Valentine’s day. This line emphasizes the idea that love is unconditional, and it's not about changing for someone else but accepting and loving them as they are.

Overall, My Funny Valentine is a beautiful song that presents a message of acceptance and unconditional love. It's a reminder that love goes beyond physical looks, and sometimes the people who don't fit the traditional standards of beauty have their unique charm, and that's what makes them special.

Line by Line Meaning

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at how confidently our birdly friend behaves

His virtue doth parade
He shows off his good qualities

Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
You don't understand, my not-so-bright friend

The picture thou hast made
How you appear to others

Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your clueless expression and messy hair

Conceal thy good intent
Hide your genuine intentions

Thou noble upright truthful sincere
You're an honest and sincere person

And slightly dopey gent, you are
But you also come off a little foolish

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You're my amusing and endearing valentine

You make me smile with my heart
You bring joy to my heart

Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Your appearance isn't conventionally attractive, but that doesn't matter to me