This song was written by Cole Porter for the 1938 Broadway show "Leave it To Me," where it was introduced by Sophie Tucker. (Apparently Mr Porter gave Miss Sterling an early version, since she sings it in 1937.) The lyrics below are as published; the version Samantha sings is slightly different, and uses an arrangement created by Artie Butler for the 1975 film "At Long Last Love," where it was sung by Cybill Shepherd (!), Madeline Kahn, and Eileen Brennan.
VERSE
When mummy in her sixteenth year,
Was dreaming of romance a lot,
She thought that she was Guinevere
And ev'ry boy Sir Launcelot,
But now that mummy's more mature
And knows her way about,
She doesn't b'lieve in "vive l'amour"
For Mummy’s found out--
REFRAIN 1
Most gentlemen don’t like love,
They just like to kick it around,
Most gentlemen can’t take love,
'Cause most gentlemen can’t be profound.
As Madame Sappho in some sonnet said,
“A slap and a tickle
Is all that the fickle
Male
Ever has in his head."
For most gentlemen don’t like love,
I've been in love.
So I know what I'm talking of
And oh, to my woe I have found
They just like to kick it around.
[There are three additional refrains]
CODA
So if your boy friend, some fine night, should say
He'll love you forever
And part from you never,
Just push him out of the hay,
'Cause most gentlemen don't like love,
they just like to kiock it around.
Samantha's Version
When I was in my sixteenth year and dreaming of romance a lot,
I thought that I was Guinevere and every boy Sir Lancelot.
But not that I am more mature and know my way about,
I don’t believe in vive l'amour cause Sammy’s found out.
Most gentlemen don’t like love, they just want to kick it around.
Most gentlemen can’t take love, cause most gentlemen can’t be profound.
As Madame Sappho in some sonnet said
“A slap and a tickle is all that a fickle male ever had in his head.”
Cause most gentlemen don’t like love, they just want to kick it around.
Most gentlemen can’t take love, cause most gentlemen can’t be profound.
So if your lover one fine night should say:
He’ll love you forever and part from you never,
Just push him out of the hay
Cause most gentlemen don’t like love, they just want to kick it around.
Most gentlemen can’t take love, cause most gentlemen can’t be profound.
In all the world, sister, they’re all the same,
A pounce in the clover and then when it’s over
So long and what was your name?
They just want to kick it
They just want to push it
They just want to bump it around.
They just want to push it
They just want to bump it
They just want to kick it around
They just want to- HUH! HUH! Kick it around!