You'd Be Surprised

Written by Irving Berlin in 1919

Sung by Madeline Kahn at Carnegie Hall in 1988 for Berlin's 100 Birthday Celebration

[1st verse:]

Johnny was bashful and shy

Nobody understood why

Mary loved him

All the other girls passed him by

Ev'ryone wanted to know

How she could pick such a beau

With a twinkle in her eye

She made this reply

[1st refrain:]

He's not so good in a crowd but when you get him alone

You'd be surprised

He isn't much at a dance but then when he takes you home

You'd be surprised

He doesn't look like much of a lover

But don't judge a book by it's cover

He's got the face of an Angel

But there's a Devil in his eye

He's such a delicate thing but when he starts in to squeeze

You'd be surprised

He doesn't look very strong but when you sit on his knee

You'd be surprised

At a party or at a ball

I've got to admit that he's nothing at all

But in a morris chair

You'd be surprised

[2nd verse:]

Mary continued to praise

Johnny's remarkable ways

To the ladies

And you know advertising pays

Now Johnny's never alone

He has the busiest phone

Almost ev'ry other day

A new girl will say

[2nd refrain:]

He's not so good in the house but on a bench in the park

You'd be surprised

He isn't much in the light but when he gets in the dark

You'd be surprised

I know he looks as slow as the Erie

But you don't know the half of it, dearie

He looks as cold as an Eskimo

But there's fire in his eyes

He doesn't say very much but when he starts in to speak

You'd be surprised

He's not so good at the start but at the end of the week

You'd be surprised

On a streetcar or in a train

You'd think he was born without any brain

But in a taxicab

You'd be surprised