BUT I CAN’T GET CLOSER TO YOU
music by Al Cohn
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the instrumental theme Mr. George)
I pour Dom Perignon when you’re thirsty.
The mouton when you’re feeling “Grand Cru”
On the sea and on land,
Vintage always on hand
But I can’t…get closer to you
Ship you, from Singapore, sprays of orchids
Send you alpaca packed in Peru
For whatever your need, I endeavor with speed
But I can’t …get closer to you
Not when we
Are one from shoulder to knee
Be it said that it’s true
Any closer and I’d be in back of you
No lover’s knot could knot us as tightly
Dancing nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you
second chorus:
Caffe latte and roses at breakfast,
Pavarotti in concert for two
In the dark, in the light
When you spark, I ignite
But I can’t… get closer to you
For some fresh air, I’d buy you a county
Like a “mountie” I would pursue
To your every desire
I’m a clever suppli’r
But I can’t…get closer to you
Tied in bows, in close proximity,
I conclude, heaven knows,
Any closer and you’d be in back of me
No lover’s knot could knot us as tightly
Dancing nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you
©LaFlo Music (ASCAP)
___________________________________
DANCE WITH ME OUTSIDE
music by Pete Rugolo
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
No gold, no polished parquet
No band-upon-the-stand to play
But dance with me,
Come dance with me, outside
The trees swing softly in time
The rhythm in the breeze, sublime
So if you please
Come dance with me, outside
We’ll slide and sway and lose the light
And glide away far out of sight
And till the dawn we’ll hide away, we’ll stay
In this interlude
Even rain won’t intrude
So let me lead out the door,
There we’ll share a starlit floor
Tonight you’ll see
You’ll dance with me, evermore
©Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck (marleneverplanck.com)
on her CD “My Impetuous Heart” DRG Records 8481
___________________________________
FOLLOW ME
music by Nino Rota
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From La Doce Vita)
Follow me to nights you’ve never known
Round the world on flights you’ve never flown
Follow if you dare
To a fountain, where
We can share a dance until the dawn
Follow me beyond the farthest lights
To a magic pond of starlit nights
Drifting on until, high upon a hill,
We can find a place where time stands still
Follow on and on above the crowd
Ever drawn inside a cloud
Round and round the stair
Higher, higher there
Breathless in a sigh
As in mid-air
Flying out tonight, you’re next to me
Private satellite to ecstasy
So away we’ll ride,
Sitting side by side
Follow me, and I will be your guide
© 1997 Editiones Cam, Rome
recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema
Soulnote Records 121306
___________________________________
LOVE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU
music by Pete Rugolo
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the instrumental theme Diamond on the Move
from Richard Diamond, Private Detective)
Brighter than stars, shooting on high
You look at me, sending a sigh
And I reply, “It must be love in view”
And love looks good on you
There, in your smile, there is a place
Wherein your heart wears on your face,
There in that place,
A look you couldn’t misconstrue
And love looks good on you
And on me, you’ll see
In reflection,
That glow, bestowed with
Such affection
Soft as a blush, met by the dawn
Then like a rush when it comes on
Here it comes on!
A look that looks forever true
So good love looks on you
© Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP) & Jimmy McHugh Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck (marleneverplanck.com) on her CD
“It’s How You Play the Game” Audiophile Records ACD-325
___________________________________
SING ME TO SLEEP
music by Billy VerPlanck
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
Pillows on the floor, rugs by the fire,
Blankets snug, warm and tight,
Just right,
Night is here, sing me to sleep,
Sing me to sleep, my dear
Sing of sunset skies, sing of my eyes.
Fly me on clouds of white,
All night,
Lullabies, nice little sighs,
Sing me to sleep, tonight
Crackling logs make do
Accompanying you,
Just mention I’m your choice.
Softly ‘round your themes,
Your thoughts, your schemes
It seems my dreams are in your voice
Add some kindling, now; fire’s dwindling, now,
Shadows break high, tonight,
So right
Till the dawn, sing me to sleep
No counting sleep from now on
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck (marleneverplanck.com) on her CD,
“What Are We Going To Do With All This Moonlight?”
Audiophile Records ACD-304
©Mounted Music (ASCAP)
___________________________________
WAIT AND SEE
music by Armando Trovajoli
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From Marriage, Italian Style)
Wait and see
Wait and see
I may be here with you forever
Wait and see
Wait and see
Come the fates, come the stars, whatever
It’s not by chance that this dance isn’t ending
With one more glance we’ll advance beyond pretending
Here’s the key
Turn the key
We’ll be locked and embracing
Our hearts ever racing
We’ll be……
…..just you wait and see.
©1997 Southern Music (ASCAP)
recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema
Soulnote Records 121306
___________________________________
YOU’LL COME TO ME
music by Nino Rota
lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From Fellini’s Amarcord)
Memories steal from the past
Breaking the seal on the past
Much they reveal
Much they still conceal
On the breath of spring there comes a wind
Sweetly blowing blossoms into play
Tossing in the breeze, my memories
Drifting back again from yesterday
Reminiscing here, where once we kissed
This is where we’ll always be
On the wind forever we’ll exist
This I know, you’ll come to me
Were we really there, beneath the trees?
Did it happen quite the way it seems?
Standing here amid those memories
These are not the springtime’s idle dreams
Some horizon, somewhere you’ll appear
Like a ship out on the sea
In my eyes you’re growing ever near
Here you’ll come, you’ll come to me
You’ll come, you’ll come to me…
©1997 Editiones Cam, Rome
recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema
Soulnote Records 121306
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