AN OCCASIONAL MAN
(Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, 1955)

I got an island in the Pacific
And everything about it is terrific.
I got the sun to tan me, palms to fan me, and
An occasional man.

I love my island. It's very lazy.
If I should ever leave it, I'd be crazy.
I got papayas, peaches, sandy beaches, and
An occasional man.

When I go swimming, I am always dressed in style,
'Cause I go swimming wearing just a great big smile.

My little island was made for pleasure,
And in the cool of evening it's a treasure,
And when the day grows later, what is greater than
An occasional man?

If you're on shore leave and your face is kind of cute,
Perhaps by your leave I could be your passion fruit.

My little island was made for pleasure,
And in the cool of evening it's a treasure,
And when the day grows later, what is greater than
An occasional man?

My little island is such a beauty,
You may forget to heed the call of duty.
But if you give the slip to your ship,
Miss your trip, take a tip, and blame
An occasional dame!

[Written for the 1955 film "The Girl Rush" (not to be confused with "Girl Rush" from 1944). Gloria DeHaven sang it in the film. It has been become a "jazz favorite" and has been recorded many times, notably by Judy Holliday, Abbey Lincoln, Julie London, Jeri Southern, Sarah Vaughan, and (my favorite) Anita O'Day. It has also been recorded several times as an instrumental. I think it was one of the songs revived during the recent "lounge music" fad.

[Lyrics copied from here:
http://songrise.tripod.com/crypt/crypt1.htm
Click to see the sheet music cover and hear a midi file. But beware of annoying pop-ups.]