I Went to a Marvellous Party

Noël Coward

About I Went to a Marvellous Party

"I Went to a Marvellous Party" (sometimes known as I've Been to a Marvellous Party) is a song with words and music by Noël Coward, written in 1938 and included in the revue, Set to Music. Although a melody exists, the text is most often recited over a piano accompaniment. Out of Noël Coward's approximately 300 songs, this piece is one of his most popular, ranking among the top 30 in royalty potential.


Year:
2008
2:47
891 
#6

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Quite for no reason
I'm here for the Season
And high as a kite
Living in error
With Maud at Cap Ferrat
Which couldn't be right
Everyone's here and frightfully gay
Nobody cares what people say
Though the Riviera
Seems really much queerer
Than Rome at it's height
Yesterday night
 
I went to a marvelous party
With Nounou and Nada and Nell
It was in the fresh air
And we went as we were
And we stayed as we were
Which was Hell
Poor Grace started singing at midnight
And didn't stop singing till four
We knew the excitement was bound to begin
When Laura got blind on Dubonnet and gin
And scratched her veneer with a Cartier pin
I couldn't have liked it more
 
I went to a marvelous party
I must say the fun was intense
We all had to do
What the people we knew
Would be doing a hundred years hence
Dear Cecil arrived wearing armor
Some shells and a black feather boa
Poor Millicent wore a surrealist comb
Made of bits of mosaic from St. Peter's in Rome
But the weight was so great that she had to go home
I couldn't have liked it more
 
People's behavior
Away from Belgravia
Would make you aghast
So much variety
Watching society
Scampering past
If you have any mind at all
Gibbon's divine Decline and Fall
Seems pretty flimsy
No more than a whimsy
By way of contrast
On Saturday last
 
I went to a marvelous party
We didn't start dinner till ten
And young Bobbie Carr
Did a stunt at the bar
With a lot of extraordinary men
Dear Baba arrived with a turtle
Which shattered us all to the core
The Grand Duke was dancing a foxtrot with me
When suddenly Cyril screamed “Fiddledidee”
And ripped off his trousers and jumped in the sea
I couldn't have liked it more
 
I went to a marvelous party
Elise made an entrance with May
You'd never have guessed
From her fisherman's vest
That her bust had been whittled away
Poor Lulu got fried on Chianti
And talked about esprit de corps
Maurice made a couple of passes at Gus
And Freddie, who hates any kind of a fuss
Did half the Big Apple and twisted his truss
I couldn't have liked it more

I went to a marvellous party
We played the most wonderful game
Maureen disappeared
And came back in a beard
And we all had to guess at her name
We talked about growing old gracefully
And Elsie who's seventy-four
Said, “A, it's a question of being sincere
And be, if you're supple you've noting to fear
Then she swung upside down from a glass chandelier
I couldn't have liked it more

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Noël Coward

Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise". more »

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Written by: NOEL COWARD, NOEL PIERCE COWARD

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Background Information
"I Went to a Marvellous Party" was written and performed by Noël Coward, an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer. He created the song in the late 1930s.
Production & Release
The song was first performed in 1938 and is featured in Coward's musical revue "Set to Music."
Artistic Inspiration
The song is said to be inspired by the glamorous parties hosted by Elsa Maxwell, a prominent American gossip columnist, radio host, author, and professional hostess.
Musical Style
Coward's performance of "I Went to a Marvellous Party" is noted for its satirical humor, witty lyrics, and sophisticated delivery, characteristic of his musical style.
Lyrics & Themes
The lyrics portray a narrator who recounts the outrageous events and eccentric behavior at a high-society party. The track satirizes the lifestyle of British high society.
Cover Versions
"I Went to a Marvellous Party" has been covered by several artists, including famous English singer and actress, Elaine Page.
Influence & Legacy
The song remains a classic and is still performed in cabarets and stage shows today, demonstrating the lasting appeal of Noël Coward's music.
Notable Performances
There are legendary performances of "I Went to a Marvellous Party" by Noël Coward himself, including one at Las Vegas's Desert Inn in 1955.
Parodies & Uses in Popular Culture
The song was parodied by musical comedy duo Flanders and Swann, indicating the prominence of the song in popular culture.
Critical Reception
Critics have praised "I Went to a Marvellous Party" for its sharp wit, satirical commentary on high society, and Coward's charismatic performance.
Popularity & Recognition
"I Went to a Marvellous Party" retains cultural relevancy decades after its release and is considered one of Noël Coward's most popular and enduring songs.

Discuss the I Went to a Marvellous Party Lyrics with the community:

1 Comment
  • Maturin
    verse 2...it should be 'scratched a Vermeer with a Cartier pin'...'scratched her veneer' makes no sense.
    LikeReply 12 years ago

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"I Went to a Marvellous Party Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14685176/No%C3%ABl+Coward/I+Went+to+a+Marvellous+Party>.

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