Lazy
Ella Fitzgerald · Sings Irving Berlin [1957]
Ev'ry time I see a puppy upon a summer's day
A puppy dog at play, my heart is filled with envy
That's because my heart is yearning to pass the time away
Like that pup 'cause I'm all fed up and tho' it's wrong to be
I long to be
Lazy, I want to be lazy
I want to be out in the sun
With no work to be done
Under that awning, they call the sky
Stretching and yawning and let the world go drifting by
I want to peep through the deep, tangled wildwood
Counting sheep 'til I sleep like a child would
With a great big valise full of books to read
Where it's peaceful while I'm killing time
Being lazy
Life is short and getting shorter
With each day that goes by and how the time does fly
Before you know, it's over
That's why I'm in such a hurry to pack my things and fly
To a spot where it's nice and hot and hear the birdies sing
While I'm being
A puppy dog at play, my heart is filled with envy
That's because my heart is yearning to pass the time away
Like that pup 'cause I'm all fed up and tho' it's wrong to be
I long to be
Lazy, I want to be lazy
I want to be out in the sun
With no work to be done
Under that awning, they call the sky
Stretching and yawning and let the world go drifting by
I want to peep through the deep, tangled wildwood
Counting sheep 'til I sleep like a child would
With a great big valise full of books to read
Where it's peaceful while I'm killing time
Being lazy
Life is short and getting shorter
With each day that goes by and how the time does fly
Before you know, it's over
That's why I'm in such a hurry to pack my things and fly
To a spot where it's nice and hot and hear the birdies sing
While I'm being
Lazy - Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald's 1957 recording of Irving Berlin's 'Lazy' stands as a quintessential example of her mastery of swing and vocal phrasing. On the album Sings Irving Berlin, Fitzgerald delivers a performance that balances the song's playful, laid-back tempo with her signature clarity and emotional depth. The track showcases her ability to navigate complex jazz standards while maintaining a warm, inviting tone that defines her mid-career repertoire. As a staple of her discography, this rendition highlights her skill in interpreting Berlin's witty lyrics through the lens of bebop-influenced jazz, cementing the song's place in the canon of American popular music.