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‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic? Lyrics by Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

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[SPORTIN' LIFE]
'Lo, Bess, goin' to the picnic?
[BESS]
No, guess I'll stay home
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
Picnics is all right for these small town suckers
But we is use to the high life, you know
You and me, we understands each other
I can't see for the life of me what you is hanging round this place for
Why, with your looks, Bess, and your way with the boys
There's big money for you and me in New York
[BESS]
I can't remember
Ever meeting a nothing what I likes less than I does you
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
Oh, come on now
How about a little touch of happy dust for old time's sake?
[BESS]
I's through with that stuff
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
Come on, give me your hand
[BESS]
I tells you, I's through
[SPORTIN' LIFE, spoken]
Just a pinch, not enough to hurt a flea
[BESS]
No, no, I done give up dope
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
Tell that to somebody else
Nobody ever gave up happy dust
[SPORTIN' LIFE, spoken]
Come on, take it
Take it
[PORGY enters and grabs SPORTIN' LIFE by the wrist.]
Let go, you damn cripple!
God, what a grip for a piece of a man
[PORGY]
Sportin' Life, you keep away from my woman
Or I'll break your damn neck!
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
I'd like to see a lousy cripple like you break my neck
[PORGY & BESS]
If I get my hands on you once more, you'll see quick enough (Go along now)
[SPORTIN' LIFE]
All right
Your men friends come and they go
But remember old Sportin' Life and the happy dust here all along
[PORGY & SPORTIN' LIFE, spoken]
Get out, you rat, you louse, you buzzard! (Ha ha ha ha ha)
[SPORTIN' LIFE saunters off. JAKE and CLARA come out dressed for the picnic.]
[JAKE]
Honey, we is sure goin' to strut our stuff today
[JAKE, spoken]
Be sure to come along to the picnic, Bess
Credits
Larry Marshall (Actor)

Larry Marshall (Actor)

Clamma Dale

Clamma Dale

Donnie Ray Albert

Donnie Ray Albert

About “‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?” by Larry Marshall (Actor)

Read the complete lyrics to "‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?" by Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert from the album "Gershwin: Porgy and Bess". 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 Broadway, Opera, Musicals.

"‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?" is performed by Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert. from the album "Gershwin: Porgy and Bess" 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 "‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?", explore more songs by Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert 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.

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Frequently asked questions

"‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?" is credited to Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"‘Lo Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic?" appears on "Gershwin: Porgy and Bess".

Visit the Larry Marshall (Actor), Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert artist page at /artist/larry-marshall-actor for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.