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Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable to Lunch Today) Lyrics
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today, madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
She is sorry to be delayed
But last evening down in Lover's Lane
She strayed, madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
When she woke up and found
That her dream of love was gone, madam
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray
And from under her velvet gown
She drew a gun and shot her love down, madam
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today
When the mob came and got her
And dragged her from the jail, madam
They strung her upon the old willow across the way
And the moment before she died
She lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
She is sorry to be delayed
But last evening down in Lover's Lane
She strayed, madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
That her dream of love was gone, madam
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray
And from under her velvet gown
She drew a gun and shot her love down, madam
Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today
And dragged her from the jail, madam
They strung her upon the old willow across the way
And the moment before she died
She lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
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The first time I heard this tune, I was shocked. Then, I listened to it again, and you can just hear Miss Otis crying in Ella's voice. Absolutely wonderful. It almost makes me want to cry.
I'm currently rehearsing a production of the musical Red, Hot & Cole--basically a biography of Cole Porter, the writer of this song. I particularly like this song--don't know why. But the first time I heard this song--heard it without really listening for the tune or the words, really heard it--was just now, after a mini-fight with a friend (not really a fight, we exchanged insults but as far as I can tell we're still friends). I was kind of hurt by the things she said, though I didn't show it before. And this was the first time I ever thought of this song as really, truly sad, and not just a story of a woman with an odd name.
I believe this song was composed in a very short space of time as a result of Cole Porter being told in a restaurant by the waiter that his expected guest was delayed: Waiter: "Sir, I have a message for you - Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today". Cole Porter's imagination was excited by the possible reason and he coined the rather outlandish excuse as given in the lyrics! OK? Michael UK
I believe this song was composed in a very short space of time as a result of Cole Porter being told in a restaurant by the waiter that his expected guest was delayed: Waiter: "Sir, I have a message for you - Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today". Cole Porter's imagination was excited by the possible reason and he coined the rather outlandish excuse as given in the lyrics! OK? Michael UK