Lyr Req: Either Too Young Or Too Old

Subject: Either Too Young Or Too Old
From: GUEST,genie
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 11:13 PM

Can someone post the lyrics (and chords?) to the W W II song "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old"?

Thanks, Genie

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 12:49 AM

No chords, but I found the lyrics at Lyrics World.
-Joe Offer-

---

They're Either Too Young or Too Old
recorded by Tommy Dorsey
Words by Frank Loesser and music by Arthur Schwartz.

Introduced by Bette Davis in the 1945 film "Thank Your Lucky Stars."
Her interpretation was in an amusing manner with many lyrics added to the original. Nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. [sic]

You marched away and left this town as empty as can be.
And I am like the driftwood in a deadly calm at sea
I can't sit under the apple tree
With anyone else but me.
For there is no secret lover
That the draft board didn't discover.

They're either too young or too old.
They're either too grey or too grassy green.
The pickin's are poor and the crop is lean.
What's good is in the army.
What's left will never harm me.

I'm either their first breath of spring.
Or I'm their last little fling.
I must confess to one romance,
I'm sure you will allow.
He tries to serenade me,
But his voice is changing now.
I'm finding it easy to stay good as gold.
They're either too young or too old.
I'll never ever fail ya, when you are in Australia
And flying over Egypt, your heart will never by gypped.
And when you get to India, I'll still be what I've been to ya,
I've looked the field over, and lo and behold!
They're either too young or too old.

From: "Montcomags"

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 12:55 AM

Here's an alternate version, with great differences in the lyrics. This version sounds more familiar to me. You'll find a recording here (click).
-Joe Offer-

---

THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
(Lyrics: Frank Loesser, Music: Arthur Schwartz) (1943)

They're either too young, or too old,
They're either too gray or too grassy green,
The pickings are poor and the crop is lean.
What's good is in the army,
What's left will never harm me.

They're either too old or too young,
So, darling, you'll never get stung.
Tomorrow I'll go hiking with that Eagle Scout unless,
I get a call from grandpa for a snappy game of chess.

I'll never, never fail ya,
While you are in Australia,
Or off among the Rooshians,
And flying over Egypt.
Your heart will never be gypped,
And when you get to India,
I'll still be what I've been to ya.
I've looked the field over
And lo and behold!
They're either too young or too old!

They're either too bald or too bold,
I'm down to the wheelchair and bassinet,
My heart just refuses to get upset.
I simply can't compel it to,
With no Marine to tell it to.

I'm either their first breath of spring,
Or else, I'm their last little fling.
I either get a fossil or an adolescent pup,
I either have to hold him off,
Or have to hold him up.
The battle is on, but the fortress will hold,
They're either too young or too old.

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 01:14 AM

Both versions above are incomplete! I transcribed this one from Spotify:


THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD
Words by Frank Loesser; music by Arthur Schwartz; ©1943.
As sung by Bette Davis on "Thank Your Lucky Stars – The Original Soundtrack Recording (Digitally Remastered)"

You marched away and left this town as empty as can be,
And I am like the driftwood in a deadly calm at sea.
I can't sit under the apple tree
With anyone else but me,
For there is no secret lover
That the draft board didn't discover.

They're either too young, or too old.
They're either too gray or too grassy green.
The pickings are poor and the crop is lean.
What's good is in the Army.
What's left will never harm me.

They're either too old or too young,
So, darling, you'll never get stung.
Tomorrow I'll go hiking with that Eagle Scout, unless,
I get a call from Grandpa for a snappy game of chess.

They're either too warm or too cold.
They're either too fast or too fast asleep,
So darling, believe me, I'm yours to keep.
There' isn't any gravy.
The gravy's in the Navy.

They're either too fresh or too stale.
There is no available male.
I will confess to one romance I'm sure you will allow.
He tries to serenade me but his voice is changing now.

They're either too bald or too bold.
I'm down to the wheelchair and bassinet.
My heart just refuses to get upset.
I simply can't compel it to,
With no Marine to tell it to.

I'm either their first breath of spring,
Or else I'm their last little fling.
I either get a fossil or an adolescent pup.
I either have to hold him off,
Or have to hold him up.
The battle is on, but the fortress will hold.
They're either too young or too old.

[instrumental interlude.]

I'll never, never fail ya,
When you are in Australia,
Or out in the Aleutians,
Or off among the Roossians,
And flying over Egypt,
Your heart will never be gypped,
And when ya get to India,
I'll still be what I've been to ya.
I've looked the field over and lo and behold—


[The last expected line "They're either too young or too old" is not sung.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Either Too Young Or Too Old
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 01:29 AM

Indeed. I always remember thinking of it as a perfect example of aposeopesis, a figure of speech I had just learned about at school: along with "If you knew Susie like I know Susie"

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Either Too Young Or Too Old
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 01:43 AM

There was a very nice (but I don't know if it was complete) version in With A Song In My Heart. The film stared Susan Hayward but Jane Froman dubbed over Hayward's singing.

SRS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Either Too Young Or Too Old
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 01:43 AM

Though the effect even better in "Either too young", that 'behold' being sung on the dominant, thus frustrating the ear of the anticipated reversion to the tonic, as well as the mind of the concluding line.