You'd Be Surprised

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You'd Be Surprised is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1919.

It is sung from the viewpoint of a woman enamored of a man who she finds to be an exceptional lover, according to what people told her from Mary. In the second verse we discover 'Johnny' has been with many women because the word got around. You never actually find out whether the woman singing has been involved with him.

It was recorded by a number of artists, including Billy Murray. Five years later, Murray would record a similar-themed tune called "Charley, My Boy", which included an instrumental referback to this one.

Part of first verse:

Johnny was bashful and shy;

Nobody understood why

Mary loved him.

Everyone wanted to know

How she could pick such a beau

With a twinkle in her eye

She made this reply

Parts of various choruses:

He's not so good in a crowd

But when you get him alone

You'd be surprised;

He's kind of scared in a mob

But when he takes you home

You'd be surprised.

He won't impress you

Right from the start

But in a week or two

You'd be surprised.