Ira Gershwin



Israel Gershowitz (later Ira Gershwin; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist, best remembered for the songs he wrote in collaboration with his brother George Gershwin.

Quotes

 * You've made my life so glamorous, You can't blame me for feeling amorous. 'S wonderful, 's marvellous That you should care for me.
 * "'S Wonderful", Funny Face, Act I (1927).


 * I got rhythm, I got music, I got my man Who could ask for anything more?
 * "I Got Rhythm", Girl Crazy, Act I (1930).


 * Summertime and the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin', and the cotton is high. Oh yo' daddy's rich, and yo' ma is good lookin', So hush, little baby, don' yo' cry.
 * "Summertime", Porgy and Bess, Act I, sc. i (1935). Lyric written in collaboration with DuBose Heyward.


 * It ain't necessarily so, It ain't necessarily so. De t'ings dat yo' li'ble To read in de Bible, It ain't necessarily so.
 * "It Ain't Necessarily So", Porgy and Bess, Act II, sc. ii.


 * Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try.
 * "Nice Work If You Can Get It", A Damsel in Distress (1937).


 * You like potato and I like po-tah-to, You like tomato and I like to-mah-to; Potato, po-tah-to, tomato, to-mah-to – Let's call the whole thing off!
 * "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", Shall We Dance (1937).


 * They all laughed at Christopher Columbus When he said the world was round; They all laughed when Edison recorded sound.
 * "They All Laughed", Shall We Dance.


 * The way you wear your hat, The way you sip your tea, The mem'ry of all that – No, no! They can't take that away from me!
 * "They Can't Take That Away from Me", Shall We Dance.


 * In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, They're only made of clay, But our love is here to stay.
 * "Our Love Is Here to Stay", The Goldwyn Follies (1938).


 * Poor Jenny, bright as a penny! Her equal would be hard to find. She lost one dad and mother, A sister and a brother-- But she would make up her mind.
 * "The Saga of Jenny", Lady in the Dark