Lyr Req: Busy Doing Nothing (Burke, Van Heusen)

Subject: I'm busy doing nothing
From: Bugsy
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:29 AM

Can anyone help me with the lyrics to this song please.

I'm busy doing nothing
working the whole day through

trying to find lots of things not to do

I'm busy going nowhere

Isn't it such a crime

I'd like to be unhappy but

I really don't have the time.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:43 AM

I like this one a lot too. I can't give you much direct help on the lyrics, but it may help to point you in the right direction if I tell you that Bing Crosby sang it in a rather wet version of Mark Twain's brilliant satire, "A Connecticut Yankee at the Court of King Arthur".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 10:10 AM

Title is The Night is Long. Lyrics and tab are here. I'm not awake enough yet to paste them in. Feel free.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:28 AM

I think we may be talking about two different songs here...

Subject: Lyr Add: BUSY DOING NOTHING
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:42 AM

Well, then, let's try this one......

BUSY DOING NOTHING

We're busy doing nothing, working all day through,
we're trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it such a crime ?
we'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.

I have to watch the river to see that it doesn't stop,
and stick around the rosebuds so they'll know when to pop.
Better keep those crickets cheerful,they're really a solemn bunch,
farso, farso. I never have the time for lunch.

I'd like to meet a turtle, and teach him how to swim,
then I have to shine the dew-drops, they're looking rather dim.
Meet my friend the robin and buy him a brand new vest.
Farso, farso, I never have time to rest.

Does that seem like all of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:51 AM

Sure does mate. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:54 AM

Come to think of it, isn't there also a verse about having to wake the sun up, in case he sleeps all day?

Subject: Lyr Add: BUSY DOING NOTHING
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 12:04 PM

Aha! Another version which includes your "missing" verse:

We're busy doing nothing, working the whole day through,
trying to find lots of things not to do.
We're busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime?
We'd like to be unhappy but we never do have the time.

I have to watch the river, to see that it doesn't stop.
Then stick around the rosebuds, so they'll know when to pop.
Better keep the crickets cheerful, they're really a solemn bunch.
Hustle, bustle, and only an hour for lunch.

Repeat opening verse.

I have to wake the sun up, he's liable to sleep all day.
And then inspect the rainbows, so they'll be bright and gay.
You must rehearse the songbirds, to see that they sing in key.
Hustle, bustle, and never a moment free.

Repeat verse.

I have to meet a turtle, I'm teaching him how to swim.
Then I have to shine the dewdrops, you know they're looking rather dim.
I told my friend the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest.
Hustle, bustle, we never do have,
we never do have, we never do, never do,
never do, never do, never do have the time,
never do have the time.

(Please note that the opening verse, and each repetition of it, is preceded by a long string of la, la, las.)

Slightly different format, a sun verse, and a slightly different turtle verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: Bugsy
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:47 PM

Thanks Guys, That's exactly what I was looking for!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm busy doing nothing
From: alanabit
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 03:10 PM

I'm impressed!