To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=120265
14 messages

ADD: Beauty Is as Beauty Does (Disney?)

17 Apr 09 - 11:02 PM (#2613593)
Subject: Lyr Req: 'Beauty Is as Beauty Does'
From: Celtaddict

Years ago, I knew a song (possibly from that Sunday night Disney show?) that went

Beauty is as beauty does,
That's what wise men say.
If you would be beautiful,
Do this every day.

That was the recurring refrain; there were then a number of verses, though the only one I recall just now is

Wake up in the morning
And hop right out of bed.
You never will be beautiful
If you're a sleepyhead.

The others involved such recommendations as smiling, saying 'please' and 'thank you', brushing your teeth; it might have been one of those short parts added on to a longer show, possibly whatever that Disney one was on Sundays; there were other bits with Jiminy Cricket and the Encyclopedia and such.

Does anyone recall this, and any other verses?

19 Apr 09 - 01:26 PM (#2614478)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Beauty Is as Beauty Does'
From: Jim Dixon

It was a Mouseketeer who sang this, probably several of them, probably including Annette Funicello, on The Mickey Mouse Club back in the 1950s. In my part of the world, it was shown weekdays during the after-school, before-supper period. The Sunday program, as I remember it, was called The Wonderful World of Disney and didn't feature Mouseketeers.

I think this song impressed me enough to stick in my memory (somewhat) because I was unfamiliar with the proverb "Beauty is as beauty does" and its meaning puzzled me. At my age, being linguistically naïve, and tending toward literalism, I must have wondered: how can beauty, being an abstract concept, do anything?

Here's the oldest quote I can find, from "The Poor Man's Fish," an unsigned article in the periodical Household Words: A Weekly Journal, "conducted by Charles Dickens", Vol. XIV, No. 347, Saturday, November 15, 1856:
    They are very beautiful fish to look at,—not very large, but silvery bright, with a tinge of pink in the scales here and there, and with very large, lustrous, gold and black eyes. But, to add still more to their beauty (according to that very old proverb, Beauty is as beauty does), they are called the poor man's fish. Not only do the poor make a cheap and hearty meal off pilchards, but are clothed, and housed, and warmed by the money brought in by the fishery; and in every place where a few hundred hogsheads of pilchards have been caught and bulked, a few hundred pounds have found their way into the pockets of the poor.
Sorry, I can't add anything to your lyrics.

19 Apr 09 - 09:57 PM (#2614735)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Beauty Is as Beauty Does'
From: Celtaddict

Thank you for the quote, Jim!
(I thought I recalled the song being a Disney bit.)

22 Mar 10 - 10:31 AM (#2869247)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST

When it comes to learnin'
You'd better start at once
There's no use being beautiful
If you're a little dunce!

09 Apr 11 - 05:16 PM (#3132114)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST

I found the song in I tunes.

09 Apr 11 - 05:22 PM (#3132115)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST,claire

I just saw a clip of the song in you tube !look up mickey mouse club beauty is as beauty does by darlene and jimmy

11 Apr 11 - 08:27 AM (#3132977)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: Jim Dixon

I found the YouTube clip, but it's disappointing. It only has one verse, but I'm sure the whole performance was longer.

Beauty is as beauty does; that's what wise men say.
Now if you would be beautiful, do this ev'ry day:
Help someone who's feeling blue(?); let kindness be your guide,
For beauty isn't only looks; it's what you've got inside.

01 Jan 12 - 04:50 PM (#3283078)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST

One verse I remember:

Stack up all the dishes
And do them in a wink;
You never could be beautiful
Beside a dirty sink!

10 Sep 14 - 01:44 PM (#3659077)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST,Lily Lee

Wow -- I was wondering about these lyrics today and so good to find them here. I was thinking about the dishes -- so I'd better go down and do mine "in a wink". Thanks everyone.

01 Oct 16 - 05:25 PM (#3812249)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST,Gu est

Thanks for these lyrics. I have a granddaughter and I remembered this song when I was trying to tell her that being beautiful comes from the inside. I seem to remember something about listen to your teacher and follow the golden rule also listen to your parents but I can't remember the rest. Can anyone else remember these lyrics?

04 Oct 16 - 01:25 AM (#3812648)
Subject: Lyr Add: BEAUTY IS AS BEAUTY DOES
From: Jim Dixon

I found this on Spotify and transcribed it:


BEAUTY IS AS BEAUTY DOES
As recorded by the Mouseketeers on "Musical Highlights from the Mickey Mouse Club TV Show" (2006).

DOREEN: Hi, Jimmie!
JIMMIE: Hi, Doreen. It's time for "Words to Grow By." Do you have some for us?
DOREEN: Yes, I do, Jimmie.
JIMMIE: Well, good! Okay, Mouseketeers, listen closely to Doreen.

DOREEN: (sings) Beauty is as beauty does; that's what wise men say.
Now if you would be beautiful, do this ev'ry day:
Help someone who's feeling blue; let kindness be your guide,
For beauty isn't only looks; it's what you've got inside.

JIMMIE: Oh, thank you Doreen. Wonderful words to grow by! Darlene, hi, honey.
DARLENE: Hello, Jimmie.
JIMMIE: All set?
DARLENE: Mm-hm.
JIMMIE: Okay.

DARLENE: (sings) Beauty is as beauty does; that's what wise men say.
Now if you would be beautiful, do this ev'ry day:
If you would be charming, just listen carefully
While ev'ryone you listen to says: "She's the one for me!"

JIMMIE: Oh, thank you, Darlene. What do you say we all join Darlene and sing the song together, shall we? Okay. Once more, honey.

EVERYONE: (sings) Beauty is as beauty does; that's what wise men say.
Now if you would be beautiful, do this ev'ry day:
If you would be charming, just listen carefully
While ev'ryone you listen to says: "She's the one for me!"

JIMMIE: Yes. Thank you, Darlene. Wonderful words to grow by.

19 Jul 18 - 06:18 PM (#3938343)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST

We used to make up funny lyrics to this-
"Beauty is as beauty does,
and that's the only way.
If you blow up the toilet seat,
you won't look good today!"

Keep in mind, we were eleven.

10 May 21 - 10:41 PM (#4105603)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST,Guest

Another verse.
(Now if you would be beautiful, do this everyday...")
"Listen to your teacher
And mind your Mom and Dad.
Obey them and work really hard,
Then someday you’ll be glad."

10 May 21 - 10:46 PM (#4105605)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
From: GUEST,Guest 5665

Another verse.
If you would be beautiful, do this everyday...

"Listen to your teacher
And mind your Mom and Dad.
Obey them and work really hard,
Then someday you’ll be glad."