They Can't Take That Away From Me
George and Ira Gershwin, 1937


Before the start of a standard there is usually a 'verse'. These are (optional) words spoken or sung to explain the situation. The song starts with the line below.


The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no, they can't take that away from me
The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off-key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no, they can't take that away from me
We may never, never meet again
On this bumpy road to love
Still I'll always, always keep the memory of...
The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you've changed my life
No, no, they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

Sip - drink very small amounts
Beam - as from a light e.g the beam of a torch
Key - how high or low a song is sung
Haunt - what a ghost does
Bumpy - not smooth, difficult to travel

1. Fred will remember the way Ginger 'sings off key'. 'Singing off key' is not normally seen as positive. 'misses the kisses' but why does he 'miss the bites'. Do you think he literally means that his girlfriend bit him?

2. Why does she haunt his dreams?

3. Why is the road to love 'bumpy'?

Writing:

1. Write a diary entry for a time when there were 'flying plates'. Describe a) how the argument started b) what you said/he said/she said (no swearing, please!)

2. Why do you think this relationship ended? Write the story from the point of view of the singer.

Role play

In pairs act out a scene between the lovers. Choose between a) a 'broken date' where one person has to cancel an evening out b) an argument over dinner.