Can't help lovin' dat man of mine (from Showboat - 1936), by Helen MOrgan, Hatie McDaniel, Paul Robeson , Irene Dunne and others.Can't help lovin' dat man of mine MAGNOLIAWhy do you love Steve?JULIEI don't know - he's such a bad actor on the stage, and he thinks he's so good - maybe that's why I love him - you see, Nola - love's a funny thing - there's no sense to it - that's why you gotto be so careful when it comes creeping up on you -MAGNOLIAIt's like that thing you always sing when we take our walks...JULIEI know...Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (sings:)Fish got to swim, birds got to fly, I got to love one man till I dieCan't help lovin' dat man of mine.MAGNOLIAThat's it...(QUEENIE, re-entering, stops in her tracks and looks puzzled)JULIETell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow, Tell me I'm crazy (maybe I know)Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.QUEENIEHow come y'all know dat song?(JULIE stops abruptly, a swift terror steals across her face, and quickly vanishes - succeeded by an expression of stolid caution)MAGNOLIAWhy? Do you know it, Queenie?QUEENIEF'sho' ah does - but ah didn't ever hear anybody but colored folks sing dat song - sounds funny for Miss Julie to know it -MAGNOLIAWhy, Julie sings it all the time.QUEENIEKin y'sing de whole thing?JULIE'Course I can (almost fiercely)What's so funny about that?(She starts to sing in an attitude of defiance, then lapsing into the "blue" spirit of the song)Oh, listen, sister,I love my mister man,And I can't tell yo' why.Dere ain't no reasonWhy I should love dat man -It mus' be sumpin' dat de angels done plan. Fish got to swim, birds got to fly, I got to love one man till I die -Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow, Tell me I'm crazy (maybe I know)-Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.When he goes awayDat's a rainy day,But when he comes back dat day is fine, (carried away)De sun will shine!(QUEENIE goes on beating time with a spoon) He kin come home as late as kin be,Home widout him ain't no home to me -Can't help lovin' dat man of mine!QUEENIE(tickled to death)Dat's beautiful, Miss Julie -JOE(entering, eating an apple)Was dat you, Miss Julie? Dat's mah favorite song!QUEENIE(singing "at" Joe)Mah man is shif'lessAn' good for nuthin' too(He's mah man jes' de same)He's never round hereWhen dere is work to do -(Looking hard at JOE. Two COLORED SERVANTS enter from R.)He's never round here when dere's workin' to do.JOEHe's never round yo' when dere's workin' to do. (Another colored helper comes on from L. and listens, entranced)QUEENIEDe chimbley's smokin',De roof is leakin' in,But he don' seem to care.He kin be happy wid jes' a sip of gin -JOEWhy you all talk 'bout gin?QUEENIEAh even loves him when his kisses got gin!JULIE, QUEENIE & SERVANTSFish got to swim and birds got to fly,I got to love one man till I die -Can't help lovin' dat man of mine. Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow,Tell me I'm crazy (maybe I know)Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.When he goes away, dat's a rainy day,But when he comes back, dat day is fine,De sun will shine!He kin come home as late as kin be,Home widout him ain't no home to me -Can't help lovin' dat man of mine!JOEWhile de birds fly, till de world dies,I'll love dat gal of mine(Or else she ain't my gal!)She's lazy and slow, crazy, I know. Can't help lovin' dat gal.(She's jes' as crazy 'bout me!)When I goes away, all de rainy day,An' when I comes back, dat day is fine, Yes, sister.She kin come home as late as kin be, Home widout her ain't no home to me, Can't help lovin' dat gal of mine!TWO MALE SERVANTSWhile de birds fly up in de skyMy gal loves me;Dat's why she's true gal of mineShe may be lazy and slow as cold molasses, I know,Can't help lovin' dat gal of mine!When I goes away, dat's lovin'all de rainy day, dat's lovin',An' when I comes back dat day is fine,Yes, sister!She kin come home as late as kin be,Home widout her ain't no home to me,Can't help lovin' dat gal of mine!(MAGNOLIA has started to do the shuffle)JOELook at dat little gal shuffle!(MAGNOLIA dances. QUEENIE and JOE egg her on, ad lib)JULIE, QUEENIE & WOMENHe kin come home as late as kin be,Home widout him ain't no home to me,Can't help lovin' dat man of mine!JOE & MENShe kin come home as late as kin be,Home widout her ain't no home to me,Can't help lovin' dat gal of mine!