I Wanna Be Loved By You

By Herbert Stothart, Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar
1928

An iconic number for the original "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl Helen Kane, who first performed it in the Broadway musical Good Boy, this infectiously cute number was the product of the legendary Ruby/Kalmar team (pictured) that had written for the Marx Brothers, among many others. Kane's rendition propelled her to superstardom, and was copied many times since, including by Betty Boop, the cartoon character she inspired, and by Marilyn Monroe, who memorably performed it in Billy Wilder's classic comedy Some Like It Hot. A young Debbie Reynolds, portraying Helen Kane in the 1950 Ruby/Kalmar biopic Three Little Words, also took a crack at this late Roaring '20s anthem.

Lyrics:

I wanna be loved by you,
just you and nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you
alone--Boop Boop a Doop!
I wanna be kissed by you
just you, nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you
alone

I couldn't aspire
To anything higher
Then to fill a desire
to make you my own

I wanna be loved by you,
just you and nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you
alone

I couldn't aspire
To anything higher
Then to fill a desire
to make you my own
tada tada ta tada

I wanna be loved by you
just you, nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you
Alone
Boop Boop a Doop!

Recorded By:

Annette Hanshaw
Sinead O'Connor
Frank Sinatra
Barry Manilow
Tina Louise

GIve Me the Simple Life

By Harry Ruby & Rube Bloom
1945

Ruby (pictured) and Bloom collaborated on this song for the movie musical Wake Up and Dream, starring June Haver and John Payne. Ruby was also the composer of such standards as "Who's Sorry Now?", "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" and "I Wanna Be Loved By You." He was a close friend of Groucho Marx, and wrote many of the classic songs from the Marx Brothers films.

Lyrics:

I don't believe in frettin' and grievin';
Why mess around with strife?
I never was cut out to step and strut out.
Give me the simple life.

Some find it pleasant dining on pheasant.
Those things roll off my knife;
Just serve me tomatoes; and mashed potatoes;
Give me the simple life.

A cottage small is all I'm after,
Not one that's spacious and wide.
A house that rings with joy and laughter
And the ones you love inside.

Some like the high road, I like the low road,
Free from the care and strife.
Sounds corny and seedy, but yes, indeed-y;
Give me the simple life.

Recorded By:

Julie London
Tony Bennett
June Christy
Rosemary Clooney
Stan Getz

Nevertheless

By Harry Ruby & Bert Kalmar
1931

Upon its composition, this song was immediately snatched up by the two most popular vocalists of the day, Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby. It became a big hit for either of them, and the song has been part of the standard canon ever since. The Mills Brothers would also have a top 10 hit with it in 1950.

Lyrics:

I knew the time had to come
When I'd be held under your thumb.
I'm like a pawn in your hand,
Moved and compelled, at your command.
Whether it's for bad or for good,
I would never change it if I could.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe I'm weak, maybe I'm strong,
But nevertheless I'm in love with you.

Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose,
And maybe I'm in for cryin' the blues,
But nevertheless I'm in love with you.

Somehow, I know at a glance, the terrible chances I'm taking.
Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking.

Maybe I'll live a life of regret,
And maybe I'll give much more than I get,
But nevertheless, I'm in love with you.

In spite of all I could do,
I went ahead falling for you.
So if I laugh or I cry,
I made my bed, that's where I'll lie.
For what happens, there's no excuse,
I put my own head in the noose.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Harry Nilsson
The Andrews Sisters
Kay Starr
Patti Page