A Little Learning Is a Dangerous Thing Songtext
von Frank Sinatra & Pearl Bailey

Hey, Pearl?
What′s buggin' you, girl?
Too much knowledge, Frank, too much knowledge
Explain it to me
Well, uh, well

I started to school (Mm-hmm)
At the age of six (One of them real quiz kids)
Yeah, started readin′ and writin' and such (Usual start)
As time went on I studied lots of
Ooh, other things (Uh-huh, like, uh)
Now, most of 'em didn′t hurt much (Oh, I had other teachers)
Well, I got my diploma, I was real, real smart (Nice pretty frame)
Of my knowledge there was no doubt (That′s pretty obvious)
Yeah, but lately I've ascertained
That′s a good word, too, heh-heh-heh)
It wasn't even a start
Let me tell you what I found out
(Look at the size of my ear, pour it on)


You know it started with a man (Uh-huh)
And the man, he was grand (Ain′t it the truth?)
He had a line that would make a bird sing
(Well, this kid really came on, I can see that)
'Cause you were much too smart to be afraid at the start
(Frank) A little learnin′ is a dangerous thing
(Well, I'd like to hear some more)
At first he only wanted two (Two?)
Then he changed it to few (Oh, you mean loot!)
I even loaned that man my watch and my ring
(Oh, you lost your head, Pearl, completely)
'Cause you were hip to the fact that he would pay you right back
Yes, and learnin′ is a dangerous thing

Yes, with his sweet talk, his so discreet talk
(Oh, Frank) He had me doin′ things I shouldn't do (That cad!)
Ain′t no denyin', no sense in tryin′
(Let me tell you this, this is sad)
My education's beat black and blue
(We′ll get you an encyclopedia)

Yeah, but now I know the score at last (Ah, now I'm happy)
I'm a gal with a past
That left my head, heart and purse in a sling
(You mean you got yourself in hock?)
Yes, it′s understood
That brother clipped me, but good


A little learnin′
Can be a dangerous thing
Yeah, girl, that's the kind of stuff you gotta watch for
Oh, it makes you so nervous, oh
Sure does, shakes you up
Yeah
Yeah, like I said, that knowledge can mess up your life at times
Oh, it makes you so nervous (Oh, brother)
I shot a blank, now what′s with you, Frank?
Well, dig me

I started to school just like, uh, all kids do
(You mean you a young one?)
I was a miccaroonie in my day, learned my lessons and got along fine
(A little old social climber)
And then as time went on, I learned a lot of other things
(You clever boy)
Mm-hmm, and I really had myself a jolly time
(I can imagine as much)
I never played any favorites 'cause, uh, I was much too smart
(You think you were too smart, wait ′til you get further down)
Had my boots on and I had 'em laced up tight
(Kids talk like that in your era?)
We wrote the book, Pearl

But then I made a mistake (Most men do)
Mm-hmm, I shoulda known from the start (Most men don′t)
Uh-huh, let me tell you what happened last night
(This is not dated material?)
Stand back, 'cause it started with a gal (Always does)
And her name, it was Sal (Sounds corny)
Oh, she was cute, she was as fine as a bird on the wing
(You always could pick 'em)
But you were much too bright (Boy)
To fall in love the first night
But, uh, a little learnin′ is a dangerous thing
(I told you, there on the other side of the record)
And then we danced for a time or two ′til she said she was blue
(Uh-oh, there it is)
And right away I was doin' the thing
(Just rushin′ through life)
'Cause I was hip to the fact that I could, uh, always jump back
(Sure thing)
But a little learnin′ is a dangerous thing
(Yes, it is)
She made with sweet talk (Mm-hmm)
That so-hard-to-beat talk
(You know what, Frank?)
What's that?
I know she even called you darlin′, lover man
(You've been eavesdroppin')
(Yes, I have)
That really sent me, coincidentally
I shoulda known enough then to scram
(No man is ever that clever, that rhymes)
Well, now I guess you know it all, least that′s all I recall
(That′s all you'll ever recall)
′Cept the part 'bout the man with the ring
(Oh, you′re gone again)
In case it's news to you, this mornin′ I said "I do"
(Oh, you dog!)
A little learnin' is a dangerous, is a dangerous thing

Oh, it's pure treachery, treachery
Trap
Trap