"You'd Be Surprised" is a song written by

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Beilin; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Berlin received numerous honors including an Acade ...

in 1919 which

Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era. Some of h ...

interpolated it into Ziegfeld's ''Follies of 1919''. Cantor soon recorded it and it became a major hit. Other popular versions in 1920 were by the All-Star Trio and by

Irving Kaufman Irving Robert Kaufman (June 24, 1910 – February 1, 1992) was a United States federal judge, United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and a United States district judge of the United States Distri ...

Lyrics

The first verse introduces the shy Johnny and the woman Mary who finds him to be an exceptional lover, although apparently no one else ever has. She explains his appeal in the first chorus. By the second verse, Mary's talking-up of Johnny has resulted in him now being very popular with the ladies. The song leaves any questions about Mary's status unanswered. The first chorus mentions the Morris Chair, made popular in America by furniture maker Gustav Stickley. Part of first verse: :Johnny was bashful and shy; :Nobody understood why :Mary loved him :All the other girls passed him by. :Everyone wanted to know :How she could pick such a beau :With a twinkle in her eye :She made this reply Parts of various choruses: :He's not so good in a crowd :But when you get him alone :You'd be surprised; :He's kind of scared in a mob :But when he takes you home :You'd be surprised. :He won't impress you :Right from the start :But in a week or two :You'd be surprised. :At a party or a ball :I've got to admit he's nothing at all :But in a Morris chair :You'd be surprised Part of second verse: :Mary continued to praise :Johnny's remarkable ways :To the ladies :And you know advertising pays :Now Johnny's ne'er alone :He has the busiest phone :Almost every other day :A new girl will say

Cover versions

*Other chart versions in the USA were by Orrin Tucker (vocal by Bonnie Baker) in 1940 and by

Johnnie Ray John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Highly popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor to what became rock and roll, for his jazz and blu ...

in 1954. *The song was recorded by a number of other artists, including Billy Murray on November 19, 1919, for Victor (No. 18634A). Five years later in 1924, Murray would record a similar-themed tune called " Charley, My Boy", which included an instrumental referback to this one. *The Hoosier Hot Shots covered the song in 1942. *The song was revived by Olga San Juan in the 1946

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...

film, '' Blue Skies''. *The song was also memorably recorded by

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

in 1954 - with alternate lyrics. It is available on the Marilyn Monroe compilation album titled ''Anthology''. * Kathy Linden released a version of the song as a single in 1958 that reached No. 50 on the ''Billboard'' pop chart. *

Burl Ives Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American Folk music, folk singer and actor with a career that spanned more than six decades. Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his o ...

included the song on his album ''Burl Ives Sings Irving Berlin'' in 1960. *

Madeline Kahn Madeline Gail Kahn (''née'' Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian, and singer. She was known for her comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including '' What's Up, Doc ...

sang it at Carnegie Hall in 1988 for Berlin's 100 Birthday Celebration. *Additionally, rock band White Hassle recorded a cover of the song for their 2005 album ''Your Language''.

References

External links

Recording by Billy MurrayMadeline Kahn sings at Carnegie Hall 100th Birthday Celebration for Irving Berlin
{{Authority control 1919 songs 1958 singles Songs written by Irving Berlin Kathy Linden songs Billy Murray (singer) songs Marilyn Monroe songs