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How Can I Refuse? Lyrics by Martin Short

Barbie Sings! The Princess Movie Song Collection

2004

[PREMINGER]
I've been bowing, I've been scraping
I've been lying like a rug
And for ten long years I've had to pay my dues
But today I am escaping
For the last gold has been dug
It was waiting there, so how could I refuse?
I'm returning home a hero
Who's discovered mighty wealth
And what better husband could a princess choose?
I'm the suitor who will suit her
Bring the kingdom back to health
And I'll wear the crown, for how could I refuse?
Raise every glass and rouse every cheer
Praise that the reign of Preminger is here
Master in charge of all that I see
All hail me!
And by marrying the princess
I get all that I desire
Like a moat, an ermine coat and palace views
Even though she treats me coldly
It's a sign of inner fire
For inside, she's thinking, "How can I refuse?"
[NACK, spoken]
Right, except for this one little problem, boss
[PREMINGER, spoken]
Prince Boss to you!
[NACK, spoken]
Right, the queen decided to marry her off to the king of Dulcinea next week
[PREMINGER, spoken]
What? Making a decision without me?
Who does she think she is?
[NICK, spoken]
Uh, the Queen?
[PREMINGER, spoken]
You, simpering simpleton!
[NICK, spoken]
Well, she is the Queen
She's got a crown and a scepter and sits in her big fancy chair and always—
[PREMINGER, spoken]
Silencio!
(sung)
No!
I won't let go!
This peasant's son won't turn and run because some reckless royal chose another beau
Ah!
It's a temporary setback
It's a momentary lapse
But conveniently my ego doesn't bruise
And the moment that I get back
I will show them who's the boss
You can bet your bullion there'll be no "I do's"
Yes, suppose the girl goes missing
So the king says "Au revoir"
Then I find her, bring her back and make the news
Then the queen will be so grateful
That she'll pledge the heir to moi
And I'll humbly tell her, "How can I refuse?"
[NICK, spoken]
Yeah
[PREMINGER]
When our ceremony's over
I'll arise and take the throne
And that nitwit Anneliese can kiss my shoes
For the kingdom and the castle
Will be mine and mine alone
If the crown should fit, then how can I refuse?
[All, PREMINGER, NACK & NICK]
So get ready with the roses
And stand by with the champagne
When you've got a brilliant plan, you never lose
Yes, before this chapter closes
I'll (He'll) be big as Charlemagne
It's a thankless job, but how can I (he) refuse?
How can I (he) refuse?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Credits
Martin Short

Martin Short

About “How Can I Refuse?” by Martin Short

Read the complete lyrics to "How Can I Refuse?" by Martin Short from the album "Barbie Sings! The Princess Movie Song Collection" in 2004. 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 USA, In English, Cartoon.

"How Can I Refuse?" is performed by Martin Short. from the album "Barbie Sings! The Princess Movie Song Collection" in 2004 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 "How Can I Refuse?", explore more songs by Martin Short 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

"How Can I Refuse?" is credited to Martin Short. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"How Can I Refuse?" appears on "Barbie Sings! The Princess Movie Song Collection" in 2004.

Visit the Martin Short artist page at /artist/martin-short for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.