From the musical “Annie Get Your Gun”, 1946
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
I’m honored, I’m flattered
This greeting really mattered
This welcome is grand but I’m really concerned
I like your attention
But this I have to mention
You’re playing with fire
And you’re apt to get burned
Chorus
There’s a girl in Tennessee
Who’s sorry she met up with me
Can’t go back to Tennessee
I’m a bad, bad man
There’s a girl in Omaha
But I ran faster than her pa
Can’t go back to Omaha
I’m a bad, bad man
There’s a girl in Wyoming
And they’re combing Wyoming
To find the man in white
Who was out with her that night
There’s a girl in Arkansas
The sheriff is her brother-in-law
Can’t go back to Arkansas
I’m a bad, bad man
- For years I have yearned to
Play towns I could return to
And “this may be it” from the way that you speak
I’m glad you’re not frightened
The atmosphere has brightened
And now let’s make plans for a wonderful week
Chorus
You are making too much fuss
For we don’t give a tinker’s cuss
We’ve been out, yes, each of us
With a bad, bad man
We’ve been chasing up and down
That other show has just left town
And the one who played the clown
Was a bad, bad man
You may love us and leave us
But the parting won’t grieve us
We’ll turn the other cheek
When the minstrels come next week
When the show folks come to call
A girl may slip but she won’t fall
We’ll give some but won’t give all
To a bad, bad man
Chorus
Monday when my show is done
I’ll teach you how to shoot a gun
You may find it lots of fun
With a bad, bad man
Tuesday there’s no matinee
But I’ll be in my tent all day
You can come around and play
With a bad, bad man
Send your mothers on Wednesday
Because Wednesday’s old hens’ day
But Thursday is sublime
I’ll have lots of open time
Friday night will be the test
If Saturday you’re still my guest
Sunday you can come and rest
With a bad, bad man