A friend of mine told me this song was used in the recent film "Quartet." She naturally assumed it was a British music-hall song, but as it happens, the songwriters are American. (Yellen was born in Poland but emigrated to the US at age 5.) This is my transcription from a recording on Spotify:


ARE YOU HAVIN' ANY FUN?
From George White's Scandals of 1939.
Words by Jack Yellen, music by Sammy Fain.
New York: Crawford Music, ©1939.
As sung by Ella Logan, 1939.

Hey, fella with a million smackers
And nervous indigestion,
Rich fella eatin' milk an' crackers,
I'll ask you one question:
You silly so-and-so
With all your dough,

Are ya havin' any fun?
What you gettin' out o' livin'?
What good is what you've got
If you're not
Havin' any fun?
Are you havin' any laughs?
Are you gettin' any lovin'?
If other people do, so can you.
Have a little fun!

Now when the honey's in the comb,
Little bees go out an' play.
Even the old gray mare down home
Is gettin' her hay. Hey!

Better have a little fun.
You ain't gonna live forever.
Before you're old and gray,
Still OK,
Have a little fun, son.
Have a little fun.

[Instrumental break]

Are ya havin' any fun?
What you gettin' out o' livin'?
What good is what you've got
If you're not
Havin' any fun?
Are you havin' any laughs?
Are you gettin' any lovin'?
If other people do, so can you.
Have a little fun!

Why do you work and slave and save?
Life is full of ifs and buts.
Why do squirrels save and save?
And what have they got? Nuts!

Better have a little fun.
You ain't gonna live forever,
And while you're in your prime,
Now is the time.
Have a little fun, son.
Have a little fun.

* * *
Also recorded by:
Horace Heidt Musical Knights, 1939
Ella Logan, 1939
Freddy Miller, ?
Chick Bullock & Levee Loungers, 1939
Hoosier Hot Shots, 1939
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch., 1939
Dick Robertson & His Orch, 1939
Shep Fields & Rippling Rhythm, 1939