He's a Ladies' Man

"He's a Ladies' Man" (also "Be a Ladies' Man") is a 1927 song from Good News! The number has evolved over time with each revision of the show, but has always been kept in the same spot. The song depicts the girls of Tait College, led by Flo and Millie, pining over star football player Tom Marlowe.

FLO
There he goes, the modern knight;

The boys' despair, the girls' delight

The Woman's Home Companion is his name.

He's a clown, and he's a wit;

The Co-eds say that he's got "it."

And what he does to flappers is a shame!

Walk collegiate, collegiate clothes,

He's a ladies' man.

Get that swagger and get that pose

He's a ladies' man.

As a lover the boy's a star;

When he gets 'em inside his car,

He goes over the course in par

He's a ladies' man.

1930 - Film
The song appears briefly in this version as a pep band tune played when Bobby announces that Tom and Pat are engaged to be married.

1947 - Film
This version was renamed "Be a Ladies' Man" and retooled to replace the original show's "Happy Days." This is the only version to be genderbent.

TOM
It's a cinch, and it's a snap.

They just fall in your lap!

And Bobby, you can make them do the same!

BOBBY
Who, me? Never!

TOM
Don't be scared; don't be shy.

Get that gleam in your eye,

And then you'll have more girls than you can name!

Walk collegiate, collegiate clothes,

Be a ladies' man!

BOBBY
I just look silly!

TOM
Get that swagger, and get that pose.

Be a ladies' man.

BOBBY
Oh, I couldn't!

TOM
If you think you're much too skinny

With your six-inch waist,

Don't just give up the fight in haste!

Some girls have such peculiar taste.

Be a ladies'

Be a ladies'

Be a ladies', learn to be a ladies' man!

BOBBY
And be collegiate! (Collegiate!)

Collegiate! (Collegiate!)

GUY #1
Walk collegiate; talk collegiate!

Be a ladies' man.

BOBBY
A-rooty-tooty!

GUY #2
Get that swagger; get that pose!

TOM, GUY #1
Be a ladies' man!

BOBBY
A-rooty-toot!

ALL
And when a ladies' man wears a certain tie,

And that twinkle is in his eye,

You can get your sweetie pie, goodbye!

They love a ladies' man.

GUY #3
Oh, how I love the ladies!

ALL
Root-toot-toot,

A-rooty-toot-toot-toot!

TOM
Get that gleam, boy, right in your eye!

ALL
I wanna be a ladies' man, a-rooty-tooty!

Root-toot-tooty-oot-toot-oot-too...

Be a ladies' man, a rooty-tooty!

BOBBY
When they give you that frozen stare,

GUY #1
Make-believe that you just don't care!

TOM
And in no time, they're in your hair!

GUY #1
When you're a ladies' man-

BOBBY
If you're a ladies' man!

TOM
If you're a ladies' man, you gotta be a good ace!

You gotta know your stuff if you wanna race.

You gotta sing bo-dodi-o-bo-bo-bidoo!

You gotta ukelele-lele, like-a she, like-a you!

You gotta do the ba-ba-da-ba-da, gotta do the shag,

And the Charleston, and the Varsity Drag!

ALL
Rah-rah-rah-rah-rah-rah-rah-rah...

TOM
Oh how I love the ladies!

ALL
Walk collegiate- collegiate clothes

Rah, rah, rah, rah...!

We're so collegiate!

Man, to be a ladies' man,

To be a ladies' man, to be a ladies' man,

Rah-rah-rah!

Swagger!

And strike a pose, (la-la-la-la)

Gotta be... (x5)

Rooty-oot-oot to be a ladies' man!

GUY #1
If you're a football star, a big shot, or an also-ran!

BOBBY
A guy whose clothes don't fit him or a dapper dan!

TOM
Any man who is half a man

Has to be a ladies'

GUY #1
Gotta be a ladies'

GUY #2
Gotta be a ladies'

BOBBY
Gotta be a ladies'

GUY #3
Hope to be a ladies'

GUY #1
Gotta be a ladies'

ALL
Gotta be a ladies' man!

GUY #3
The cat's pajamas!

ALL
Gotta be a ladies' man!

GUY #2
I'll pay ya Tuesday!

ALL
Gotta be a ladies' man!

GUY #1
I really mean it,

ALL
Gotta be a ladies' man.

And I don't mean maybe!

Got to be a ladies' man!

1974 - Broadway
Information on this production is scarce. It can be assumed that it is closer in nature to the 1993 version, with the addition of Pat.

1993 - Wichita
This version is comprised of multiple solo parts split among seven girls, although this can vary. According to the score, the girls featured in this number are Flo, Millie, Corda, Lucy, and three members of the ensemble. However, in the script there is no specific count. Their assigned numbers are up to the discretion of the director.

GIRL #1
There he goes, the modern knight,

GIRL #2
The boys' despair, the girls' delight,

GIRL #3
The woman's home companion is his name.

GIRL #4
He's a clown, and he's a wit,

GIRL #5
The Coeds say that he's got "it,"

GIRLS #1-5
And what he does to flappers is a shame;

A dirty shame!

GIRLS #1, 6
Walks collegiate, collegiate clothes,

He's a ladies' man,

Gets that swagger, and gets that pose,

He's a ladies' man.

GIRL #3
As a lover, the boy's a star.

GIRL #7
When he gets 'em inside his car,

He goes over the course in par,

He's a ladies' man.

ALL
In a pinch, in a clinch,

Better leave yourself lots of headroom.

Put on the brakes, when he mistakes

A rumble seat for a bedroom.

Walks collegiate, collegiate clothes,

He's a ladies' man.

Gets that swagger, gets that pose,

He's a ladies' man.

Got a lot of energy and lots of class.

He would be a catch for any lucky lass,

But till he pops the question better block that pass

With a kick, or a boot, or a laugh, or a hoot,

Even though he is cute!

He's a man!

He's a man's man.

What a man!

What a man!

What a man!