My Funny Valentine
Rodgers Lyrics
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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
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Still 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
Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay, little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
"My Funny Valentine" is one of the most famous and beloved jazz standards for a reason. Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1937, the song has become a classic because of its clever lyrics and haunting melody. At first, the song seems like a lighthearted joke about an awkward and unattractive person, but it quickly becomes clear that the singer is deeply in love with this person, flaws and all.
The song's opening lines set the stage for this ironic twist, as the singer begins by mocking his "dim-witted" friend for his foolish appearance. However, the singer quickly recognizes that his friend's appearance belies his true character, which is "noble, upright, truthful, sincere" and even "slightly dopey." The singer then reveals that this friend is his "funny valentine" and "sweet comic valentine," expressing his deep affection for the person.
The chorus of the song is particularly memorable, as it contrasts the singer's sincere love for his valentine with the valentine's less-than-perfect appearance. "You make me smile with my heart," the singer sings, acknowledging that his valentine has the power to warm his heart despite his physical flaws. The lyrics also poke fun at the idea of physical beauty and perfection, as the valentine's appearance is described as "laughable" and "unphotographable."
Overall, "My Funny Valentine" is a song that celebrates the beauty of imperfections and the power of love to transform even the most unlikely person into a work of art.
Line by Line Meaning
Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at how the bird parades its virtues and talents confidently
His virtue doth parade
The bird shows off its abilities and strength
Thou knowest not my dim-witted friend
My friend, you don't realize how silly you look
The picture thou hast made
The image you are presenting or portraying
Thy vacant brow and thy tousled hair
Your expressionless look and untidy hair
Conceal thy good intent
Hide your sincere intentions to not look too eager
Thou noble, upright, truthful, sincere
You are a person of great character, honesty and sincerity
And slightly dopey gent
You may seem a bit foolish or silly, but that's what makes you endearing
You're my funny valentine
You are my sweet and lovable companion, even if you are a bit of a goofball
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile and laugh with your unique sense of humor and personality
You make me smile with my heart
You fill my heart with joy whenever you're around
Your looks are laughable
Your appearance is amusing and entertaining
Unphotographable
You cannot be captured by a photo because your essence is best experienced in person
Still you're my favorite work of art
To me, you are more beautiful and valuable than any piece of art
Is your figure less than Greek
Is your body not perfect or ideal according to society's standards
Is your mouth a little weak
Are you not particularly eloquent or articulate
When you open it to speak
When you talk and express yourself
Are you smart
But what matters to me the most is your intelligence and wit
Don't change a hair for me
I love you just the way you are and don't want you to change
Not if you care for me
If you really care for me, you will appreciate and accept yourself as you are for my sake
Stay, little valentine, stay
Don't ever leave me, stay close to me always
Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day spent with you feels like a celebration of love and affection
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Damla_K
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
@enriqueso5156
Be hold 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
You looks are laughable, unphotographable
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 your hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is valentine's day
@Brookefallsvlogs
Soundtrack
Be hold 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
You looks are laughable, unphotographable
Yet you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little bit weak
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
Don't change your hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentine's day
@laraoliveira8950
My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
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 smiling?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
@christopherlyons5900
Context: Billie (the singer) and Val (short for Valentine, get it?) just had a big fight. Lee, their backer for the show they need to put on to stay out of a work camp is southern, believes in segregation. Val wants two black tap dancers, Irving and Ivor (played by the then-teenaged Nicholas Brothers in the original production!) to be in the show. Lee doesn't. He's threatening to pull out of the show. (Yes, the n-word is used--by someone clearly depicted as wrong, and somewhat immoral in his dealings).
Val is also jealous because Lee is interested in Billie, and has falsely claimed she kissed him. But mainly he's just angry she's arguing for a compromise, and he can't compromise on this. The have talent, and they should have the same right to perform as any of them. He'd rather go to the work camp than sell out on that principle. She agrees, but is hoping for some kind of workaround--she's a pragmatist, he's an idealist. There must be some way to make it work. He storms off in a huff.
And she sings this to herself. Because she realizes she wouldn't change one thing about him. Not one hair. Not one ideal. He's an idiot in the way he tries to get his ideals made into reality. But he's her idiot. Her funny Valentine. She loves him for himself, and nothing else.
It's one of the most beautiful profound moments in all of theater.
Needless to say, none of the racial stuff got into the MGM adaptation with Rooney and Garland, who were ideally cast. Neither did the song, which Judy Garland was freakin' born to sing. (Rooney has the vacant brow and the tousled hair, and his figure is anything but Greek. In a really bad movie, that inexplicably cut out most of the songs as well.
I would give anything to see this show as it was originally performed. But somehow, they change a whole lot of hairs, every time it's performed. Even though it made an anti-racist statement, on Broadway, in 1937, that the Amsterdam News proclaimed to be the most powerful made in mainstream musical theater up to that point.
But the n-word. Used by someone we're supposed to dislike. And a song that contains the word "all dark people are light on their feet." Racist, right?
Woke is fast asleep a lot of the time. Misses a lot. This play offended all the racists in the country when it came out. Now it's offending anti-racists. Or that's what they call themselves.
::sigh::
@damlakoc3675
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
@GypsyFairy85
I wish that somewhere there was a recording of Mitzi Green's version of this. She performed it first in the original stage version of Babes In Arms. She had an amazing voice.
@christopherlyons5900
If I had the option of seeing just one play from the past--just going back, and blending into the audience--I might very well choose that. It was very special. I mean, The Nicholas Brothers--themselves!--played the two black kids Val wants to include in the show. They're so talented, why shouldn't they get to perform? But the backer, a kid who won some money, was raised to believe in segregation. He says no dice unless they're out. Val won't have it. Billie tries to look for a compromise, and he's angry at her. He already knows they're soulmates--they sang the ultimate soulmate song together. But he can't compromise on what he knows is right. Even though it means they're all going to a work camp.
She watches him go. She sings this song. Maybe he's a dope. But he's HER dope. And she wouldn't change anything about him. Not one thing.
1937. I could find clothes that would blend in. Just need a time machine......
@taniecerodgers4987
I love every version of this song ❤️
@viclefebvre252
Is that a jojo reference ?
@LAW120BB
my and my wife's wedding song from 1965. magnificent remdition.
@user-fv1lc2qm3e
Is this a JoJo reference?
@user-infinitestar
The Masterpiece from The Great American Songbook, I totally love this piece, I heard that for first time in a cover by Chet Baker.
@fredneecher1746
She hit this like a ton of bricks.
@Damla_K
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
@jeffreybell7015
I have never heard a version of this that I did not like, that did not move me. This one is glorious. But long time ago I heard a version sung by Morgana King. That one moved me like no other. I wish I could find it again.