Cole Porter Lyrics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Highland lads in their kilts

Cole Porter wrote "Let's Do It" in 1928. It's impossible to know exactly what lines have never been used in other renditions, since cabaret singers often create their own verses, frequently based on current events. I particularly love the couplets penned by Noel Coward, which include the following:

"The Belgians and Greeks do it,
Nice young men who sell antiques do it"

"Monkeys whenever you look do it,
Aly Khan and King Farouk do it"

"Each man out there shooting crap does it,
Davy Crockett in that dreadful cap does it"

Answer: Anything Goes

"Anything Goes", "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "All That Jazz" all relish the decadence of modern times. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is from the musical by the same name. "All That Jazz" was written by Kander and Ebb for the musical "Chicago". "So What" is from the musical "Cabaret".

Answer: Miss Otis

"Miss Otis Regrets" tells the story of a woman who strayed down in lover's lane. When she awoke and found her dream of love was gone, she got a gun and shot her lover down. The mob came and dragged her away and strung her on the old willow across the way. All of which is more than enough reason not to be able to keep a lunch appointment.

Answer: When they begin the Beguine

"Begin the Beguine" was introduced in the 1935 musical "Jubilee" but became popular after it was recorded by Artie Shaw and included in "Broadway Melody of 1940" and Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell danced to it. The other answers are lyrics from other musicals. "The Way You Look Tonight" was written by Jerome Kern; "On the Street Where You Live" was written by Lerner and Lowe. And "flying so high with some guy in the sky" is a lyric from "I Get a Kick Out of You", which was written by Porter.

Answer: You, you, you

"Night and Day" was written for the 1932 musical "The Gay Divorcee." Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance one of their most famous pieces to the song. It was one of Porter's biggest hits, and the 1946 Hollywood film about his life starring Cary Grant is titled "Night and Day." (FYI, the film is highly fictionalized...ignoring things such as Porter's homosexuality.)

Answer: De-lovely

Of course, it's also delightful, delectable, delicious, delirious, dilemma, de limit, and deluxe.

The song "It's De-Lovely" was introduced by Bob Hope and Ethel Merman in "Red, Hot and Blue" and later used in the musical "Anything Goes". "De-Lovely" is the name of a 2004 movie that tells Porter's life story through productions of some of his most famous tunes.

Answer: Champagne

The lyrics to "I Get a Kick Out of You" have been changed over the years to avoid censure.

The original lyrics included the following lines:

"I shouldn't care for those nights in the air
That the fair Mrs. Lindbergh goes through"

They are replaced with the following in most recordings:

"Flying too high with some guy in the sky
Is my idea of nothing to do"

"I get no kick from cocaine" is sometimes replaced with "Some like the perfume in Spain."

Answer: Scandalous doings in the ruins of Pompeii

Lines such as "scandalous doings in the ruins" illustrate Porter's mastery of internal rhyme. Other examples are "do do that voodoo that you do so well" from "You Do Something to Me," and "I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop" from "You're the Top".

Answer: Friendship

Many of Porter's songs celebrate romantic love. "Friendship", from "Anything Goes", is a tribute to the platonic relationship (friendship, friendship, a perfect blendship) between schemers Reno Sweeney and Moonface Martin. It also shows off Porter's ability to generate endless rhymes to a pattern: "If you're ever in a mess, SOS," "If you ever land in jail, I'm your bail," and "If they ever black your eyes, put me wise."

Answer: In the winter, when it drizzles

The wrong answers give a nod to songs from other musicals by other composers:
- "When fall nips in the air" is from "If Ever I Would Leave You", written by Lerner and Loewe for "Camelot";
- "In the summertime, when the living is easy" is from "Summertime", written by George Gershwin for "Porgy and Bess";
- "When a robin's on the wing" is from "It Might as Well Be Spring", written by Rogers and Hammerstein for "State Fair".