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Off the Record Lyrics by James Cagney

Yankee Doodle Dandy (Songs From the Original Film Soundtrack)

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[PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT]
It's really a wonderful job
For fellows like George, Abe, and me, too
It's great to shake hands with a mob
And to hold every kid on your knee, too
Every word that I speak goes in the headlines
When I speak, all the papers hold their deadlines
But I've found a way of dropping a hint
Or a glint
Of the truth that the boys cannot print
For instance
For instance

When I was courting Eleanor, I told her uncle Teddy
I wouldn't run for president unless the job was steady
Don't print it—it's strictly off the record
We entertained the royalty, but we were never flustered
We gave them Yankee hot dogs with Colman's English mustard
Don't print it—it's strictly off the record
It's pleasant at the White House, but I'll tell you how I feel
The food is simply terrible, just sauerkraut and veal
If Mrs. R would stay at home, I'd get a decent meal
But that's off the record

[Dance break.]

When I go up to Hyde Park, it's not for just the ride there
It's not that I like Hyde Park, but I love to park and hide there
Don't print it—it's strictly off the record
I sit up in my study writing gags for Mr. Ickes
And insults for the gentlemen who'd love to slip him mickeys
Don't print that—off the record

[Dance break.]

I scrapped the Prohibition Act when we required a bracer
And finished up the Boulder Dam to give the boys a chaser
Don't print it—it's strictly off the record
And for my friends in Washington who complain about the taxes
Who cares as long as we cannot be axed out of the Axis?
Don't print it—it's strictly off the record
I can't forget how Lafayette helped give us our first chance
To win our fight for liberty, and now they've taken France
We'll take it back from Hitler and put ants in his Japants
And that's for the record
Credits
James Cagney

James Cagney

About “Off the Record” by James Cagney

Read the complete lyrics to "Off the Record" by James Cagney from the album "Yankee Doodle Dandy (Songs From the Original Film Soundtrack)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Soundtrack, Musicals, Pop.

"Off the Record" is performed by James Cagney. from the album "Yankee Doodle Dandy (Songs From the Original Film Soundtrack)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Off the Record", explore more songs by James Cagney using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for James Cagney · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Off the Record" is credited to James Cagney. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Off the Record" appears on "Yankee Doodle Dandy (Songs From the Original Film Soundtrack)".

Visit the James Cagney artist page at /artist/james-cagney for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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