Lyrics by: Johnny Burke
Arranged by: Nelson Riddle
Originally made famous by:
Bing Crosby
From the Film: Going My Way (1944)
Label: Reprise Records
Recorded: January 27, 1964
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Would you like to swing on a
star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a mule?
A mule is an animal with long,
funny ears
He kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny and his brain
is weak
He's just plain stupid with a
stubborn streak
And, by the way, if you hate to
go to school
You may grow up to be a mule
Or would you like to swing on a
star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a pig?
A pig is an animal with dirt on
his face
His shoes are a terrible
disgrace
He's got no manners when he eats
his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely
rude
But if you don't care a feather
or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig
<instrumental-first 3 lines
of chorus>
Or would you rather be a fish?
A fish won't do anything but
swim in a brook
He can't write his name or read
a book
To fool all the people is his
only thought
Though he's slippery, he still
gets caught
But then if that sort of life is
what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish
And all the monkeys aren't in a
zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see, it's all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star