Playboy of the Western World

Knew a man once, very long ago: They say that he was born in Buffalo, But I don't believe it - Buffalo was never sufficiently gilded and pearled. And this man turned out to be The playboy of the western world. Oh, he was elegant past all dreaming; He made seeming seem like the real McCoy. All the sheiks of Araby, all the shahs of Persia Couldn't hold a candle to this boy. When he walked through a room It looked as handsome as Napoleon's tomb, And the Ford he rode Could have been Mercedes-Benz à la mode. When he took me out I didn't doubt That we were going to the Astor or the Sherry-Netherland. Spring seemed to linger In the little bunch of flowers he pressed into my hand - Little bunch of flowers, didn't cost a dime. Picked them in the park in their prime. He went around with his heart unfurled: The one and only playboy of the western world. You could fall in love with everyone you'd meet When you walked with him down the street. Playboys die young; this one did too. All worn out making dreams come true. And the world was grim again, without him again, Without him - For he was elegant past all dreaming; He made seeming seem like the real McCoy. All the sheiks of Araby, all the shahs of Persia Couldn't hold a candle to this boy. When they took him out, oh, I didn't doubt That he was going to Miami or some other wonderland. Spring seemed to linger In the little bunch of flowers I pressed into his hand - Little bunch of flowers, didn't cost a dime. Picked them in the park in their prime. He went around with his heart unfurled: The one and only playboy of the western world. He was the playboy of the western world, The playboy of the western world.