Song Search

The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues

by Stephen Sondheim

on Follies: New Broadway Cast Recording (2011)

[BUDDY]
Hello, folks
We're into the follies
First, though, folks
We'll pause for a mo'
No, no, folks
You'll still get your jollies
It's just I got a problem that I think you should know

See, I've been very perturbed of late. Very upset
Very betwixt and between
The things that I want, I don't seem to get
The things that I get - you know what I mean

[spoken]
Margie? Margie?

[sung]
She says she really loves me

[MARGIE]
I love you

[BUDDY]
She says
She says she really cares

[MARGIE]
I care, I care

[BUDDY]
She says that I'm her hero

[MARGIE]
My hero

[BUDDY]
She says
I'm perfect, she swears

[MARGIE]
You're perfect, god damnit

[BUDDY]
She says that if we parted

[MARGIE]
If we parted

[BUDDY]
She says
She says that she'll be sick

[MARGIE]
*vomits*

[BUDDY]
She says she's mine forever

[MARGIE]
Forever

[BUDDY]
She says
I gotta get outta here quick!

I've got those
"God-why-don't-you-love-me-oh-you-do-I'll-see-ya-later" blues
That "Long-as-you-ignore-me-you're-the-only-thing-that-matters" feeling
That "If-I'm-good-enough-for-you-you're-not-good-enough,"
And "Thank-you-for-the-present-but-what's-wrong-with-it" stuff
That "Don't-come-any-closer-cause-you-know-how-much-I-love-you" feeling
Those "Tell-me-that-you-love-me-oh-you-did-I-gotta-run-now" blues

[spoken]
Sally? Sally?

[sung]
She says she loves another

[SALLY]
Another

[BUDDY]
She says
A fella she prefers

[SALLY]
Furs. Furs

[BUDDY]
She says that he's her idol

[SALLY]
Idolidolidolidol

[BUDDY]
She says
Ideal, she avers

[SALLY]
You deal..."avers"!!

[BUDDY]
She says that anybody

[SALLY]
Buddy-blech!

[BUDDY]
She says
Would suit her more than I

[SALLY]
Aye, aye, aye

[BUDDY]
She says that I'm a washout

[SALLY]
A washout

[BUDDY]
She says
I love her so much, I could die!

[SALLY, spoken]
Get outta here!

[BUDDY]
I've got those
"Whisper-how-I'm-better-than-I-think-but-what-do-you-know" blues

[MARGIE & SALLY]
Bla-bla-blues!

[BUDDY]
That "Why-do-you-keep-telling-me-I-stink-when-I-adore-you" feeling

[MARGIE & SALLY]
Feeling!

[BUDDY]
That "Say-I'm-all-the-world-to-you-you're-outta-you're-mind-
I-know-there's-someone-else-and-I-could-kiss-your-behind."
Those "You-say-I'm-terrific-but-your-taste-was-always-rotten" feelings!

[MARGIE & SALLY]
Bla-bla-blues!

[BUDDY]
Those "Go-away-I-need-you,"
"Come-to-me-I'll-kill-you,"
"Darling-I'll-do-anything-to-keep-you-with-me-til-you-
Tell-me-that-you-love-me-oh-you-did-now-beat-it-will-you"

[BUDDY, MARGIE, & SALLY]
Blues!