Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) (1928)
(wm) Cole Porter. (w) compiled and edited by Paul Rose and Tony Lewis for this book. (I) Play with words: Paris by Irene Bordoni and Arthur Margetson. Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. (R) 1960 film: Can Can by Frank Sinatra. Most popular recording by Frank Sinatra. (CR) Ella Fitzgerald (CR) Nat King Cole.
When the little Bluebird who has never said a word
Starts to sing: “Spring, spring”
When the little Bluebell, in the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring: “Ding, ding”
When the little blue clerk, in the middle of his work,
Starts a tune to the moon up above
It is nature, that’s all, simply telling us to fall in love

And that’s why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it, Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love
In Spain, the best upper sets do it, Lithuanians and Letts do it,
Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it, not to mention the Greeks
Folks in Iceland do it, it stays dark there for weeks
Some Argentines without means do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love

Romantic sponges, they say, do it
Oysters, down in Oyster Bay, do it, Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love
Cold Cape Cod clams ’gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it, Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love
Electric eels, I might add, do it though it shocks them I know
Why ask if shad do it, waiter, bring me shad roe.
In shallow shoals, English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love

The chimpanzees in the zoos, do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it, Let’s do it. Let’sfall in love
I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it
Heavy hipopotami do it, Let’s do it. let’s fall in love
Old sloths who hang down from twigs do it
Though the effort is great
Sweet guinea pigs do it; buy a couple and wait
The world admits bears in pits do it,
Even pekineses in the Ritz do it, Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love.

The nightingales in the dark do it
Larks crazy for a lark do it, Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love
Canaries caged in the house do it
When they’re out of season grouse do it
Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love.
The most sedate barnyard fowls do it when a chanticleer cries.
Highbrowed old owls do it; they’re supposed to be wise
Penguins in flocks on the rocks do it
Even little cuckoos in their clocks do it
Let’s do it. Let’s fall in love