Why Does Love Get In The Way? Lyrics & Chords By Noël Coward

As Recorded in London, July 12, 1951.
Café de Paris Orchestra with piano accompaniment by Norman Hackforth


Suddenly my world has altered,
Suddenly my step has faltered,
Common sense has flown,
Here I am alone
Coping with these new sensations,
Black despairs and wild elations,
Eros with his bow—has laid me low.

Why does love get in the way so?
What have I done
That this son-of-a-gun
Should pick on me?
A little while ago my heart was serene and gay,
Everything seemed okay,
But now I suddenly find—I’ve lost my way,
Why does love lead one astray so?
Why, oh why
I want to laugh,
I want to cry?
I was gay as a sparrow
Till Cupid’s arrow
Punctured this perfect day,
Why does love—get in the way?

Everything is blown to blazes,
Ordinary familiar phrases,
Seem to mean much more
Than they meant before.
Colours seem a great deal brighter,
Black is blacker, white is whiter,
Every sight and sound
Has changed around.
Why does love get in the way so?
What should it fret
And comlpetely upset
My peace of mind?
Why, only yesterday my heart was serene and bright,
Everything seemed all right,
But now I’m struck by a charge of dynamite!
Why does love lead one astray so?
Why the hell
Should I be caught within it’s spell?
Life was quite un-enchanted,
All that I wanted,
Now it’s a Passion Play
Why does love get in the way?
Why does love get in the way?