richard rodgers • oscar hammerstein II
This song is from the 1949 Broadway Musical "South Pacific" and the 1958 Film Musical with the same title. The story of the musical is summed up along with a medley HERE.
It appears early in the first act, where a bunch of Seabees [from CB:"Construction Battalion", ed.note] have gathered on the shore, pacing back and forth, frustrated of the isolation from the civilisation, endless boredom waiting for a battle to come and missing the only thing that really would comfort them. Then a squad of nurses approaches jogging along the shoreline ...
The leader of the Seabee gang - "Luther Billis" - was performed by Myron McCormick in 1949. For the Film Musical, Ray Walston was chosen, and besides Mitzy Gaynor he was the only actor whose voice wasn't dubbed. The other important Seabee "Stewpot" changed frequently on Broadway, like many other roles, but was often performed by a baritone instead of a bass. In the film, the role is uncredited, but the dubbing is certainly Thurl Ravenscroft; a man whose booming bass was heard in more productions than most any other, and keeping on until his death in 2005 at the age of 91.
From 1949 on, "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" has been an outstanding act for a lot of ensembles. The song was written for orchestra and choir featuring 2 tenor and 2 bass singers. Performing such a work solo is ambitious, silly and ... funny! By altering octaves and doing tricks with your throat it works, though R&H would have gotten the creeps. Never mind; they're both long gone.
we got sunlight on the sand
we got moonlight on the sea
we got mangoes and bananas
you can pick right off the tree
we got volleyball and ping-pong
and a lot of dandy games!
what ain't we got?
we ain't got dames!
we get packages from home
we get movies • we get shows
we get speeches from our skipper
and advice from tokyo rose
we get letters doused with perfume
we get dizzy from the smell!
what don't we get?
you know darn well!
we have nothin' to put on a clean white suit for ...
what we need is what there ain't no
substitute for ...
there is nothin' like a dame
nothin' in the world
there is nothin' you can name
that is anythin' like a dame!
we feel restless • we feel blue
we feel lonely and in brief
we feel ev'ry kind of feelin'
but the feelin' of relief
we feel hungry as the wolf felt
when he met red hiding-hood
what don't we feel?
we don't feel good!
lots of things in life are beautiful but brother ...
there is one particular thing that is nothin' whatsoever in any way
shape or form like any other ...
there is nothin' like a dame
nothin' in the world
there is nothin' you can name
that is anythin' like a dame!
nothin' else was built the same
nothin' in the world
as the soft and wavy frame
like the silhouette of a dame!
there is absolutely nothin' like a frame of a dame
so suppose a dame ain't bright
or completely free from flaws
or as faithful as a bird dog
or as kind as Santa Claus
it's a waste of time to worry
over things that they have not
we're thankful for the things they got!
there is nothin' you can name
that is anythin' like a dame!
there are no books like a dame
and nothin' looks like a dame
there are no drinks like a dame
and nothin' thinks like a dame
nothin' acts like a dame
or attracts like a dame
there ain't a thing that's wrong with any man here
that can't be cured by putting him near
a girly • womanly • female • feminine
dame!
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
In the context "South Pacific Medley", this song joins the common key G for simplicity. When played alone, in full length, the A key is more convenient, considering the bass lines.
A we got sunlight on the sand ... we got moonlight on the sea Bm we got mangoes and bananas E7 you can pick right off the tree A we got volleyball and ping-pong A#dim and a lot of dandy games Bm D6 what ain't we got Esus4 G#*) A we ain't got dames A we get packages from home ... we get movies we get shows Bm we get speeches from our skipper E7 and advice from Tokyo Rose A we get letters doused with perfume A#dim we get dizzy from the smell Bm D6 what don't we get Esus4 G#*) A you know darn well C#7 E7+9 we have nothin' to put on a clean white suit for B7 E6 ...E7 what we need is what there ain't no substitute for ... A there is nothin' like a dame E Esus4 A nothin' in the world Bm E7 F# there is nothin' you can name Daug Bm E6 A that is anythin' like a dame A we feel restless we feel blue ... we feel lonely and in brief Bm we feel ev'ry kind of feelin' E7 but the feelin' of relief A we feel hungry as the wolf felt A#dim when he met red hiding-hood Bm D6 what don't we feel Esus4 G#*) A we don't feel good C#7 E7+9 lots of things in life are beautiful but brother B7 there is one particular thing that is nothin' whatsoever ... E6 ...E7 in any way shape or form like any other ... A there is nothin' like a dame E Esus4 A nothin' in the world Bm E7 F# there is nothin' you can name Daug Bm E6 A ...F# that is anythin' like a dame ... B nothin' else was built the same F# F#/E B nothin' in the world F#7 G# as the soft and wavy frame Eaug C#m F#7 B like the silhouette of a dame B5[/B] [/A] [/#G] [/#F] [/E] B7 [/B]**)E ...E7 there is absolutely nothin' like a frame of a dame ...A so suppose a dame ain't bright ... or completely free from flaws Bm or as faithful as a bird dog E7 or as kind as santa claus A it's a waste of time to worry A#dim over things that they have not Bm D6 Esus4 G#*) A we're thankful for the things they got E E7 A da da di da da da daa E Esus4 A da da di da daa ***) Bm E7 F# there is nothin' you can name Daug Bm E6 A that is anythin' like a dame A E ...E7 there are no books like a dame A and nothin' looks like a dame D6 E ...E7 there are no drinks like a dame A ...A7 and nothin' thinks like a dame Bm ...E7 nothin' acts like a dame A#dim or attracts like a dame Bm there ain't a thing that's wrong with any man here B7 that can't be cured by putting him near E E7 C#m Esus4 A a girly womanly female feminine dame
*) No, this is not a misspelling. Both composer and musical director implemented by intention G# prior to E7, probably to obtain a vaudeville effect.
**) The deep note B1 is not peanuts to reach. Better skip it than fail, and sing normal B instead. Or omit the entire line, which is not musically important; only written to feature the character "Stewpot".
***) Instrumental part, but the melody line may of course be hummed.
