My Funny Valentine
Rodgers & Hart 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
The song "My Funny Valentine" is a ballad written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and was included in the 1937 Broadway musical "Babes in Arms". The song has since become a jazz standard and has been covered by numerous musicians over the years. The lyrics are a mixture of teasing and sincere praise directed towards the subject of the song, who is described as a "funny valentine". The opening lines of the song set the tone for its playful yet affectionate lyrics as it describes the subject as a "fine feathered friend" who parades his virtues but is unaware of the picture he presents.
The song then goes on to describe the subject's appearance including his "vacant brow and tousled hair" that hide his "good intent". The next stanza then provides a more heartfelt appreciation of the subject's character, describing him as "noble, upright, truthful, sincere" but also acknowledging his slightly dopey nature. The chorus then reiterates the humorous tone of the song by telling the subject that he is a "sweet comic valentine" that makes the singer smile with their heart.
The phrase "your looks are laughable, unphotographable" is one of the most famous lines from the song and refers to the fact that the subject may not have traditionally attractive physical features but they are still the singer's favourite "work of art". The song concludes with the singer telling the subject not to change themselves for the singer's benefit as they love them just the way they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at how confidently and proudly our bird friend is showing off
His virtue doth parade
He is showcasing his goodness for all to see
Thou knowest not my dim-witted friend
You don't realize how foolish you look, my friend
The picture thou hast made
The way you appear is not really desirable
Thy vacant brow and thy tousled hair
Your empty expression and messy hair are hiding your true intention
Conceal thy good intent
You're actually a noble, honest, and truthful person
Thou noble, upright, truthful, sincere
Despite looking dopey, you have very positive traits
And slightly dopey gent
You may seem foolish or silly, but that's part of what makes you lovable
You're my funny valentine
You are unique, charming, and make me laugh
Sweet comic valentine
You bring humor and lightheartedness to my life
You make me smile with my heart
You have a special ability to touch my emotions and make me happy
Your looks are laughable
Your appearance may be comical or amusing, but it doesn't matter to me
Unphotographable
Your charm and character cannot be captured in a photo
Still you're my favorite work of art
Despite not fitting traditional beauty standards, you are perfect in my eyes
Is your figure less than Greek
Do you have a less than perfect physique?
Is your mouth a little weak
Do you struggle to express yourself verbally or lack confidence in your speech?
When you open it to speak
When you try to communicate with me
Are you smart
Despite any perceived flaws, I still value your intelligence and wit
Don't change a hair for me
I don't want you to alter anything about yourself for my sake
Not if you care for me
If you truly love me, you'll accept me just the way I am
Stay, little valentine, stay
Don't leave me, my dear
Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day with you is special and full of love
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., 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.