This Can't Be Love
Stan Getz & Gerry Mulligan Lyrics

The lyrics of "This Can't Be Love" express an almost disbelief of the singer that the feeling they have for their lover could possibly be love - because it feels too good. The absence of negative emotions such as sobs, sorrows, and sighs as well as the lack of physical symptoms like dizziness or the head being "in the skies" are strong indicators that something as intense as love could not be the explanation for what the singer is feeling. The joyful heart that beats just at the sight of the lover's eyes only confirms this - this is just too sweet to be love, and yet it is.

The song was composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and was first featured in their 1938 musical "The Boys from Syracuse." The song became a jazz standard and was performed by many artists, including Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan, whose version is often hailed as one of the greatest jazz recordings of all time. The song's melody is playful and bubbly, with a fast-paced swing rhythm that encourages listeners to tap their toes and smile. In addition to its musical charms, the song's lyrics are clever and witty, showing Hart's signature style of using rhyming couplets and unexpected wordplay.