Brush up your Shakespeare.
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And the women you will wow.
With the wife of the British ambessida.
Try a crack out of "Troilus and Cressida."
If she says she won't buy it or tike it.
Make her tike it, what's more, "As You Like It."
If she says your behavior is heinous.
Kick her right in the "Coriolanus!"
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And they'll all kowtow.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And the women you will wow.
If you can't be a ham and do "Hamlet".
They will not give a damn or a damnlet.
Just recite an occasional sonnet.
And your lap'll have "Honey" upon it.
When your baby is pleading for pleasure.
Let her sample your "Measure For Measure!"
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And they'll all kowtow.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And the women you will wow.
Better mention "The Merchant Of Venice".
When her sweet pound o' flesh you would menace.
If her virtue, at first, she defends---well.
Just remind her that "All's Well That Ends Well"!
And if still she won't give you a bonus.
You know what Venus got from Adonis!
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And they'll all kowtow.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And the women you will wow.
If your goil is a Washington Heights dream.
Treat the kid to "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
If she then wants an all-by-herself night.
Let her rest ev'ry 'leventh or "Twelfth Night."
If because of your heat she gets huffy.
Simply play on and "Lay on, Macduffy!"
Brush up your Shakespeare.
And they'll all kowtow.
Brush up your Shakespeare.
Start quoting him now.
From KISS ME KATE (1948)
_________________________Cole Porter
