From the film “Road To Utopia”, 1945
Words by Johnny Burke
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Mary Smith had a college education
Sally Jones had a scientific streak
Susie Brown used to lecture on ancient architecture
Josie Green spoke Latin and Greek
Just forgotten girls with forgotten brains
While history explains
Chorus
When Madam Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
Said all the gentlemen, “Obviously,
The madam has the cutest personality”
And think of all the books about Du Barry’s looks
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
She had a well-developed personality
And what did Romeo see in Juliet
Or Pierrot in Pierrette
Or Jupiter in Juno? You know
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
Chorus
A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well
And never sit on the boss’s settee
Unless she’s got a perfect personality
A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair
Or even just a bit bowed at the knees
If she can show a faultless personality
And why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings
By men who wear their spats right? That’s right
So don’t you say I’m smart and have the kindest heart
Or what a wonderful sister I’d be
Just tell me how you like my personality
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: